What Would It Take?

by MileHighKCfan on Jan 2, 2008 7:01 PM EST

Just brushing up on some reading and rumors and ran across this little tidbit:

"According to Eduardo A. Encina, the Rays explored a contract extension for ace Scott Kazmir last year. Nothing came of it, and now Encina says "there's already talk that Kazmir's days as a Ray are numbered."

The dominant lefty, who turns just 24 in January, has three years left before free agency. His monster second half in '07 (2.39 ERA) may indicate an upward trend that could result in Cy votes in '08. As far as I can tell, Kazmir is still represented by Scott Boras. That could mean Kazmir goes year to year with the Rays, waiting for a massive free agent payday preceding his age 27 season in 2011.

Back on November 5th, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the Rays were even considering shopping Kazmir this winter, depending on the bounty for Johan Santana. Marc Lancaster suggested the following day that the declaration of Kazmir's availability was "dubious at best."

So he is under team control for the next three years, which I would think the Rays would utilize him for at least 2 of those years. But if they could get a nice package for him now, would they? Should they?

And if they were to put him on the block, would the Royals have anything to offer the Rays? If so, would you want to see DM pursue it?

I personally really like the kid, I think the only thing that is standing between him and a Cy Young award is the team he is on.

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That would be great...

But I don't know if the Royals have enough to offer them without depleting our minors. A guy like that with 3 years left and that much upside is going to take a lot to get. I would love to see DM go after anyone that would improve our team though, especially with his upside.

Waiting for the Royals to appear on ESPN everynight!

by MooseTacos25 on Dec 31, 2007 3:08 PM EST reply actions

great potential

sure it would be great to get him, but the stuff we (or any team) would have to give up would be huge given his service time/team control.

in all likelihood, he aint going anywhere for a while

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror." Sounds like Oscar Wilde was a Royals fan!

by ZeppelinDZ on Dec 31, 2007 3:10 PM EST reply actions

I don't think they will shop him this year

Maybe next winter. I don't see us having enough to trade for him, even if we wanted to deplete our farm system, which I don't think DM will want to do.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Dec 31, 2007 3:17 PM EST reply actions

Well we could always

pick up Victor Zambrano [not Carlos, VICTOR] off the DFA scrap heap and trade him for Kazmir. After all, that's all Tampa Bay had to do to get him from the Mets.

Think the Mets could've used him down the stretch last year? Or maybe Bannister?

Instead they had Burgos and Victor Zambrano.

Omar Minaya is an idiot. He inherited Wright and Reyes and emptied the bank with long-term contracts for guys in their decline phases: Pedro Martinez, Carlos Delgado, Tom Glavine.

Still, even an idiot with a revenue stream can put together a winner now and then.

by howserfan on Dec 31, 2007 3:28 PM EST reply actions

we arent close enough to a pennant

to sell the farm to get one player no matter how good he is...

by rockchalk on Dec 31, 2007 4:15 PM EST reply actions

I agree

We would have to sell the farm to get him and I for one am not willing to do that.

by Gordon Rocks on Jan 1, 2008 11:12 AM EST up reply actions

A unicorn, the head of the

Loch Ness Monster, and some parts for a Pontiac Fiero. Seriously, we probably couldn't put a package together to touch Kazmir. I love the thought, but I don't see it happening.

by royaldaddy on Dec 31, 2007 4:15 PM EST reply actions

OK, I Have The

Entire carcass of Nessie in my closet, and we're having our traditional Unicorn dinner for New Year's Day, but parts for a Fiero? You must be dreaming.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Jan 1, 2008 2:54 AM EST up reply actions

Good laugh early in the morning. Thanks guys.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Jan 1, 2008 9:13 AM EST up reply actions

Lucky for us

I just remembered that I have the 1 Fiero made in 1989 in the back yard. Let me know what parts will be needed and where to send them and with phils help we got us a good pitcher. As long as he did not eat the unicorn at his traditional dinner.

by TXroyal on Jan 2, 2008 7:34 PM EST up reply actions

Just looking and their needs

I see very few things that they need to compete. They actually have good to very good players at every position except catcher and pitching. I don't see how they are not more competitive then they are. Really go take a look at their depth chart its pretty good. Still I agree with every one else while he would be great to get I don't think we are in position to give up to much in the minors for one player.

by TXroyal on Dec 31, 2007 4:37 PM EST reply actions

we don't have anything to offer

our top prospects are not really necessary for that team to improve. we simply couldn't offer enough to lure kazmir away, unless it's money, in which case i don't know if i'd do it either.

Never giving up on your team is what makes you a good fan.

by kcisbetterthanstlateverything on Dec 31, 2007 4:50 PM EST reply actions

Bedard, Sheets, Kazmir, etc.

None of these potential trades are appropriate for the Royals. In order to get any of these good, young pitchers, we'd have to unload a tremendous amount of young talent. We are not at a point where we can afford to give up multiple good, young players for one great one. Any deal for any of those players would open more holes than it would fill.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 31, 2007 5:09 PM EST reply actions

Not enough farm...

The Royal farm system is decent but it's hard to seriously compete with say.. the Dodgers / Angels (assuming that the Rays won't deal with division rivals)

I would think that if the team is seriously above eventrual competition they would need to spent on the FA eventrually. not this offseason, but maybe the next. think of the Tiger's path to sucess...

Here's a few guy they could look at next offseason.

Furcal
Santana (if he gets out)
Sabathia
Teixira

Essentially, if your going to pay, pay for one REALLY good player that address a serious need. if the 1B situation going foward is still bad going for Teix might make serious sense. as it gives the Royals a serious offense with Tiex / Gordan / Butler .

I'm not quiet sure if the pitchign will pan out enough for the team to avoid spending on pitching. but between Meche / Greike / Hochevar they should be able to put together a reasonable foundation. but unlikely to form a true pitching powerhouse.

Furcal probably isn't needed... but just a thought .

by RollingWave on Jan 1, 2008 2:54 AM EST reply actions

Furcal would be a great help to the team

The biggest single need the Royals have now, and I expect for the next two years at least, is finding a good shortstop.

Maybe Callaspo will be a better fielder than I expect and can handle shortstop. But aside from that the Royals are stuck with Tony Pena Jr. until Moustakas arrives, and it even looks unlikely Moustakas will be able to field short well in the majors.

I'd be happy if the Royals signed a good MLB level shortstop to a three year deal.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Jan 1, 2008 9:28 AM EST up reply actions

Come on guys

I know it's not very likely(okay, almost impossible) for the Royals to go after somebody like Kazmir, but I fully expected atleast one person to go against that and put up an argument. I, for one, am not the person to do that but some of you have a bigger imagination than me.

by MileHighKCfan on Jan 1, 2008 11:12 PM EST reply actions

no way we nab him

he isn't a born again

I wanna know what love is, I want you to show me

by LeoBloom on Jan 2, 2008 7:01 PM EST reply actions

he isnt a born again....

yet.

We could try our damnd, excuse me darndest to get get him there.

by wildthang on Jan 3, 2008 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

What about this:

Moose Tacos, my man Hochevar, Justin Huber, and Jimmy Gobble, for Kazmir and OF Desmond Jennings? I don't really want this to happen, but that's not really completely voiding our system of talent and it gives us an ace for a few years, that if necessary we could flip for a ton when the time came.

by Hoch on Jan 3, 2008 12:16 AM EST reply actions