2003-like contract lock

by powderbluepower on Apr 4, 2007 6:14 PM EDT Comment 5 comments

I got to thinking about the magic of that 2003 season, and I remember one of the interesting subplots: If the Royals had a winning season, they got to lock up Sweeney for a while. Of course, they went 83-79 to secure the Blue Bomber himself.

No one on the team has a deal like that now, but who do you wish had a deal of that nature to potentially ride this year's optimism?

I can see good arguments for Teahen, Gordon, DeJesus, and maybe Greinke.

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Long Term Deals

Gordon doesn't need to be locked in until at least the end of the 2008 season. He will not be eligible for arbitration any earlier.

If Teahen gets off to a good start, I'd love to see him locked up for the long term. I think he, Greinke and Buck go arbitration eligible next year. I'd be guy shy of committing to Buck or Greinke right now, but I think Teahen is the real deal. Something like four years at $16M might get a signature and could be really sweet for the Royals if he stays healthy.

Another player who might be snagged at a good price right now is Gobble. Here is my old Decision Time post about this idea.:

" While it may be premature to open this discussion, I do think if the Royals decide they have faith in Gobble they might consider locking him up. If the Royals present him with something like a 5yr, $10M package now, Gobble might sign to buy that new bride of his a dream home and the Royals might have a reasonably priced swing man, or a bargain priced #4 starter, for years to come. Or of course, it could all go horribly bad.

If I were GMDM I would make this offer. Risky, but the money is managable even if it goes bad.

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by James Quinn on Apr 4, 2007 6:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cleveland

has used this method to secure players through their arb years. Angel Berroa blew up in our face, but that's why you wait after a season or two to see if the player can repeat or if they're a fluke. The Royals should take this approach with our core players the closer they get to Arb (Greinke, Gordon, Butler, Shealy, Teahen) DeJesus is already on a pretty sweet deal for the team. If you seal the deal on those players the only positions open in the next couple years will be 2B, SS, C and it'll free cash up for pitching.

lordbyronk

by lordbyronk on Apr 4, 2007 6:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kind of a weird suggestion here,

but I can't see any way the Royals lose by extending Buck through the next couple years, provided he doesn't think he's worth $5 mil a year. At worst, you have a solid back-up. At best, he breaks out this year and hits 70 home runs.

But seriously, if they can get him on the relative cheap, I think it'd be a good move. And no, this really has nothing to do with his home run yesterday....though that was cool.

"Your best? Losers always whine about 'giving it their best.' Winners go home and fuck the prom queen."

"Carla was the prom queen."

by NHZ on Apr 4, 2007 7:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well ...

I agree it would make sense for the Royals, because it seems like there's not too much a chance of his collapsing.

But for the same reason, it probably doesn't make a lot of sense for Buck. He can be pretty sure that he will have a job either way, so he might as well wait it out and see if he breaks out.

by Moose Tacos on Apr 4, 2007 11:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs