Royals sign pitcher Chin-Hui Tsao

by James Quinn on Dec 30, 2007 1:21 PM EST

A poster at MLBTR, writing from Taiwan, reports that the Royals have apparently signed pitcher Chin-Hui Tsao (also spelled Tzao). If true, this is a significant pick-up for the Royals. Tsao already has a fair amount of major league experience with Colorodo and the Dodgers. He was a well thought-of prospect for years. Here is his cube.

I could not find any confirmation of this signing, much less details. Maybe on Monday more news will be available?

Some basic information. Tsao is Taiwanese, and never played in Japan, so apparently the Trey Hillman factor is not related to this alleged signing. Tsao will be 27 years old. He is a right handed pitcher. 6'2, 190 lbs. A starter in the minors, but 42 of his 50 major league appearances were in relief. Tsao was non-tendered by the Dodgers in November and refused a minor league assignment, thus became a free agent. This means he can be controled by the Royals for at least three years through arbitration, but he has no remaining options. Tsao went on the DL last July with a "sholder injury," (although no surgery I think) and did not return to action.

Minor League Career - 376.2 innings, 317 hits, 2.75 ERA, 94/440 BB/K, 1.09 Whip. (Wow!)

Major League Career
2003 - Colorado - 43.1 innings, 48 hits, 6.02 ERA, 20/29 BB/K. 11 HRs given up.
2004 - Colorado - 9.1 innings, 7 hits, 3.86 ERA, 1/11 BB/K, 2 HRs.
2005 - Colorado - 11.0 innings, 16 hits, 6.55 ERA, 5/4 BB/K, 3 HRs.
2006 - Did not pitch. Injured?
2007 - Dodgers - 24.2 innings, 18 hits, 4.38 ERA, 8/16 BB/K, 3 HRs.

Some impressions - He gives up a LOT of homeruns. On the positive side, looks stingy on the baserunners.

If this man was really signed by the Royals it might have been a minor league "make-good in spring training" deal. He certainly looks like one more good arm for the organization. Someone who very well might be a contributor for several years. Below is a picture of his delivery. It appears to be pretty conventional so he is probably not one of those "deceptive motion" flash in the pan type relievers that seem to be coming into the MLB from Asia lately.

Can anyone else fill in more about Tsao? Or confirm if he is in fact a Royal?

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This is from dec 2003

Top Prospect: Chin-Hui Tsao, RHP

Age: 22 Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 175 Bats: R Throws: R
Signed: Taiwan, 1999
Signed by: Tim Ireland

Background: Tsao became first Taiwanese pitcher and just the second Taiwanese player to appear in the majors when he pitched 6 1/3 innings to beat the Brewers on July 25. Overall, he survived his first taste of the big leagues despite allowing first-inning homers in four of his eight starts. He missed nearly a month when he went on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, which kept his innings down enough so that he retained his rookie eligibility. Because Tsao was on the DL at the end of August, however, he couldn�t be sent to the minors and thus be allowed to pitch for Taiwan in the Asian Games. The Rockies had agreed to make Tsao available in order to have the government waive his mandatory 18 months of military service, but there was no way around Major League Baseball�s rules. Colorado�s first major international signing, Tsao received a $2.2 million bonus in 1999. He has mastered English and has shown he has fully recovered from Tommy John surgery in 2001. Before joining the Rockies, he made a strong impression in his half-season at Double-A Tulsa, ranking as the top prospect in the Texas League.

Strengths: Tsao has a devastating slider, though he has been limited in how he can use it since his elbow surgery. The Rockies don�t want him to overextend himself with the slider, which has given him more opportunity to refine his changeup. He has an exploding fastball that can run up to 96 mph and usually sits in the low 90s. He can add and subtract from his heater, depending on what the situation calls for. Just as important as his stuff, Tsao has command of the strike zone. He has averaged 10.5 strikeouts and just 2.3 walks per nine innings during his minor league career. He is athletic and moves off the mound quickly. He also is a good baserunner, able to challenge an outfielder�s arm. Pressure isn�t an issue for Tsao. He�s carrying the hopes of an entire nation, so what�s a baseball game?

Weaknesses: Tsao�s focus came under question in Colorado. Until arriving at Coors Field he always had been so much more talented than his competition that he was able to excel with ease. In the big leagues, he�s going to have to develop game plans. He must adjust to what the advance scouts, pitching coach and catcher believe he should do instead of continually shaking off his catcher. He needs to get stronger and develop more stamina so he can carry his stuff later into games.

The Future: Projected as Colorado�s future ace, Tsao will go to spring training with a solid chance to be part of the Rockies rotation. However, he�ll have to earn the job. If not, the Rockies won�t hesitate sending him to Colorado Springs for Triple-A seasoning. He skipped that step on his way up and could benefit from time with pitching guru Bob McClure.

by wadephillips on Dec 30, 2007 2:06 PM EST reply actions

wooohoooo

"benefit from time with pitching guru Bob McClure."

Yay!

by doublestix on Dec 30, 2007 2:39 PM EST up reply actions

If true, I hope it is a minor league deal

I would have no problem with giving him a minor league deal. But his very spotty track record does not warrant a major league deal. There is absolutely no room on the 25-man roster for him. Unless Moore and his people see something I don't, I can't imagine he's a major league starting pitcher.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 30, 2007 2:46 PM EST reply actions

FWIW

Just going on their numbers, I would favor General Tsao over De la Rosa, Davies and Duckworth going into spring training.

I also hope this is a minor league deal because if it is a majore league deal he will have to be put on the 40-man roster, and that roster is getting kinda tight. I think the Royals have to make a cut this week to make room for Olivo. I expect Smith, but Tupman wouldn't surprise me.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Dec 30, 2007 3:13 PM EST up reply actions

How are his numbers better?

What do you like about Tsao's numbers that is better than De La Rosa, Davies or Duckworth? Does he have a better ERA, WHIP, K/9 or K/BB?

But, I think comparing their major league stats is pretty meaningless. Tsao has 88 major league innings in his career. That's a pretty tiny sample. And those aren't even SP innings. With such a tiny sample and virtually no major league track record as a starting pitcher, how can you like him better than DLR, Davies or Duckworth? Considering how desperate the Rockies have been for starting pitching, the fact that they didn't use him in that role in his second and third years there should be very telling.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 30, 2007 3:28 PM EST up reply actions

I am looking at his minor league numbers

for the most part. From my point of view, Davies is already a failure at the major leagues, Duckworth looks like he probably will not get much over replacement level for the rest of his career and I am very close to giving up on De la Rosa as another failed major leaguer. Tsao at least has not yet failed, and his minor league numbers indicate he has a very good chance at being a useful major league pitcher. If it were up to me and I could only keep one of the four I would go with Tsao.

It is OK if we do not agree on this point.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Dec 30, 2007 3:59 PM EST up reply actions

Faild major leaguers

I would take either of those two "failed major leaguers" who have enough talent to actually have major league track records over Tsao and his 88 major league innings and two major surgeries. And are you comparing Tsao's minor league numbers to the minor league numbers of those three Royals pitchers?

Tsao is basically a minor league reliever whose stuff isn't eve as good as DLR or Davies.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 30, 2007 4:14 PM EST up reply actions

I'd go

Davies

De La Rosa

Duckworth

Tsao I guess.

Davies still has the best stuff. I just hope he can figure it out. That would be totally awesome. I'm hoping he becomes this years Dustin McGowan. I think its possible too. I just don't think its entirely likely.

by wildthang on Dec 30, 2007 11:33 PM EST up reply actions

Potential

While I think DLR and Davies have some potential to be decent starting pitchers (and Tsao has virtually none), I think their real potential lies as relievers. Many talented pitchers can't quite hack it as starters but handle relief duty well. I could easily see DLR becoming a good lefty long reliever and Davies becoming a good righty setup man.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 30, 2007 11:46 PM EST up reply actions

Well

If we're going to throw up the minor league stats Tsao wins big time.

DLR: 3.85ERA 8.09 K/9 3.70BB/9 0.67HR/9 1.37WHIP

Tsao: 2.75ERA 10.53K/9 2.25BB/9 0.62HR/9 1.09WHIP

Davies: 2.94ERA 9.00K/9 3.25BB/9 0.57HR/9 1.20WHIP

Duckworth: 3.60ERA 8.03K/9 2.56BB/9 0.89HR/9 1.27WHIP

All 4 of them split some time as RP/SP in the minors though Tsao probably spent the biggest portion as SP outside of Davies. he's also younger than Duckworth and the same as DLR. he has the best ERA, best K/9 best WHIP.

He's throws hard, and has pretty good control, the biggest problem seeing him pitching in 06 was that he seem to be losing his breaking ball. possibly from a. injury or b. change in mechanics.

For what it's worth, in the early 2000s, 3 young Taiwanese pitcher became the first batch to challenge the major leauges from the country. only one of them has since been able to fully establish himself in the bigs. but he was the lowest regarded one at the time, he was the oldest, he was the least athletic, he wasn't a lefty. he's Chien-Ming Wang.

Tsao was the most atheltic of the 3, being routinelee the national youth team's ace + clean up hitter. the other guy was Hong-Chih Kuo, who's minor league # is even more ridiculas than Tsao's but has even more trouble staying healthy. ack.

the talent is doubtless, the real question is simply how healthy he could be.

by RollingWave on Jan 1, 2008 2:30 AM EST up reply actions

Tsao

There are some reasons why his best offer was a minor league deal:

Can't start
Not good enough to manage eve 100 ip total over 4 major league seasons.
Can't stay healthy (two major surgeries: elbow and shoulder)

Sure, I'd rather have him that Paul Mildren, but his minor league stats don't outweigh the rest of his huge negatives.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Jan 1, 2008 1:07 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

I certainly agree that he hasn't shown much since 03 , otherwise he'd still be in Colorado obviously, but since it is a minor league deal, your going to look at his potential upside and not just the downside.

Can he throw hard? yes

Can he throw strikes? yes

Did he have flashs of brilliane? yes

Were other teams / people high on him? yes

Is he out of shape? no

Have there been other cases of guys struggling through injury for quiet a few years then manage to put something together? yes

by RollingWave on Jan 1, 2008 11:31 PM EST up reply actions

Injury information

He had Tommy John surgery in 2001. He had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum in 2005 which caused him to miss the entire 2006 season. I don't have details on his 2007 injury except that it was variously described as a "sore right shoulder" or "right shoulder strain." Considering that he was coming back from a torn labrum on that shoulder, that should give one pause. Again, if it is a minor league deal, I'm all for it. If it is a major league deal, then the Royals are probably throwing away guaranteed money.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 30, 2007 3:22 PM EST reply actions

the poster

on MLBTR says it's a minor league deal. i wouldn't be surprised if it's quite a hefty deal, though.

by doublestix on Dec 30, 2007 3:28 PM EST up reply actions

Are minor league deals ever hefty?

It could be a split ml/ML deal where he gets minor league peanuts if he doesn't make the ML team, but gets $500K or so if he makes the ML team. Consider that he's still an abritration eligible player, he's only worth arbitration money at most.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 30, 2007 3:39 PM EST up reply actions

yea...

Paul Phillips deal gave him a good chunk of money last year, don't remember the exact figures though.

Tsao deal is probably a split contract, good point.

by doublestix on Dec 30, 2007 4:08 PM EST up reply actions

Some recent split contracts given out

by the Royals:

Duckworth got $550K last year for his major league time. He was just resigned to a $600K contract to avoid arbitration.

Justin Smith played last year on a split contract and received $500K for his major league time.

The Rockies just signed a split contract with Mark Redman for $1M.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Dec 30, 2007 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Good pickup

If its a minor league deal, which I assume it is. For some reason, I thought highly of Tsao before.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Dec 30, 2007 7:59 PM EST reply actions

A second source provides semi-confirmation

This from a site called Taiwan Baseball:

CSMG, a sports management conglomerate that represents most of the top Taiwanese baseball players in the US, will be representing Chin-Hui Tsao. Tsao's former agent was Scott Boras.
Tsao made some more news when it was announced that he signed a 2008 minor league contract with the KC Royals.

I like a lot of that passage. The Boras abandonment angle. The confirmation that it is a minor league deal.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Dec 30, 2007 9:27 PM EST reply actions

It is official

Link to the press release. One more good arm in the organization. Good job Dayton.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Dec 31, 2007 2:19 PM EST up reply actions

+1

If he can come back from injury (always a big if) then the Royals will have another young pitcher in the system with potential. If he can't make it back, you've got an organizational guy who will anchor the Omaha staff. Lots of upside, practically no down side. Minor league deal is the way to go. Tsao was a top prospect for the Rockies - it's about time the Royals catch another break like they did with Soria. Wouldn't that be awesome!

by daveyork on Jan 1, 2008 8:09 PM EST up reply actions

And his work last year with the Dodgers

was really pretty good. From what I could find on the internet his injury last year was not too serious. At least he did not have to go back under the knife.

It all looks like an extremely good pick-up for the Royals. Very low risk and I think there is a fairly good chance this guy can help out the main club next year.

Your comparison to Soria, ohhh, if lightening strikes twice it would be so sweet.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Jan 1, 2008 8:27 PM EST up reply actions

I like it

I like this signing, though of course much is dependent on Mr. Tzao's health. Looks like he was doing really well up until AA as a starter, then was rushed, and then started sucking. It might be good to start him out in AAA for some time, see if he can re-develop, and then ship him to KC.

by gayman on Dec 31, 2007 12:13 AM EST reply actions