Royals must decide by tonight to offer arb to Grudz

"We’re still evaluating that decision and comparing it to other possibilities," he said. "I’ll tell you what I’ve been telling our staff: We’re still not ready to make a decision right now."...

"We understand the potential (financial) exposure if we do offer him arbitration," Moore said. "We’ll work through it. There’s flexibility (in the payroll) to make it work."

11 months ago RoyalsRetro 22 comments 0 recs |

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Pass

The Royals can still re-sign him even if they decline arbitration to him (probably for less money than he made last year), and there is a real risk that Grudz would accept arbitration because he almost certainly would make more in arbitration than as a free agent. He made $4.5 million in 2008 (when he was the 10th highest paid 2B) and would get the same or more in arbitration. Second base is one of the easiest positions to fill, so no team is going to overpay for Grudz.

by Gopherballs on Dec 1, 2008 11:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

yeah, unless Grudz is planning to retire or wants to be on a World Series team...

I don’t know why he would turn down arbitration, he would almost certainly make less on the open market.

by DarthYoshi on Dec 1, 2008 12:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well, he is a type B free agent.

Which means he was in the top 40% of players (12 out of 30) so i guess he is worth the money?

Go Royals!

by BabyBlues on Dec 1, 2008 12:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Elias rankings are a well-known joke

and do not include defense. Elias ranks 2B with SS and 3B, and includes backups, not just starters, so he would be top 40% among all 2B/SS/3B, including scrubs. They are also based on two previous year’s stats, so Grudz only qualified for Type B status thanks to 2007 (when he almost played a full year).

The problem with arbitration is that Grudz would be paid based on what he did in previouis years, while his free agent salary would be based on what he would be worth in 2009 (as an injury-prone, 39 year old with no power and little range) in comparison to other available 2B (including players already in each team’s system, free agents, and available in trade). Almost every team is set at 2B, or at the very least either has internal options that are cheaper and likely just as good (like Callaspo or Chris Getz with the White Sox) or already paying full price for a 2B and would be unlikely to pay full price for another one.

Even if the Royals want Grudz back, they are better off declining arbitration and signing him later for a paycut.

by Gopherballs on Dec 1, 2008 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

didn't we trade Grudz two years ago?

or last year?

oh wait…

by royalsreview on Dec 1, 2008 12:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

it's all part of "The Plan"

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 1, 2008 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Offer....

He’ll decline. Unless he’s had a change of heart. One year of Grudz wouldn’t be a bad thing even if he accepts.

Don't forget to send your broken maples to the US Forest Service.

by 306008 on Dec 1, 2008 12:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Offer arb

But tell Grudz that he’ll be a bench player if he returns.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Dec 1, 2008 12:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

$4.5 mil is a lot to pay for a bench player

by DarthYoshi on Dec 1, 2008 1:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

we can increase payroll by what %?

This is an ok increase.

Don't forget to send your broken maples to the US Forest Service.

by 306008 on Dec 1, 2008 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

no and no

With Grudz, our 2009 payroll would probably shoot up to $75 million (it is already estimated at $70 mil w/out him), and there are no indications that Glass would be willing to shell out a whole lot more money than that.

$4.5 million is a lot of clams that we could use on something else—signing next year’s draft picks, re-signing Greinke, take your pick. And $4.5 mil is probably the minimum of what Grudz would get in arbitration. We should not be using that money on an over-the-hill second baseman who played less than 90 games last year because of injuries.

I like Grudz a lot, I think he gave us roughly 2 1/2 years of above-average play at second base, but his durability has significantly declined during his tenure here—he played in 134 games in 2006, 116 in 2007, and 86 in 2008. If we want to re-sign him at a pay cut, I could probably live with that. But that is about as far as I would go.

by DarthYoshi on Dec 1, 2008 2:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yup

can’t wait for “Remembering Mark Grudzxlkasdfk” to be posted so I can contribute another spreadsheet. IN limited playing. Although he only played 134, 116, and 118 games, Grudz still managed to deliver 2.2, ,247, , and 1.34 WAR in each year respective. Prorated over a full season, he was easily an above-average player when on the field. Even with the injuries, he more than earned his money.

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 1, 2008 2:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My hope would be

He would rather start elsewhere and would not want to accept to become a bench player

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Dec 1, 2008 3:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Only offer him arbitration if you KNOW he'll decline

And since Moore almost certainly doesn’t know if he’ll decline, he can’t afford to offer it. Grudz will get at least $5M in arbitration. Neither his bat nor his defense are worth that money. Don’t risk it.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 1, 2008 3:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Let's hope

The Giants sign him within the next few hours. Save us again Brian Sabean!

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Dec 1, 2008 4:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

they've actually been halfway intelligent this offseason

a bit scary

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Dec 1, 2008 5:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They must have hired a stat guy!

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 1, 2008 5:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They actually waited

Until Renteria was declined arbitration by the Tigers before they signed him. WTF?!?!?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Dec 1, 2008 5:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No Thanx Cya Grudz

It takes 46 muscles to frown but only 4 to flip 'em the bird.

by kcscoliny on Dec 1, 2008 3:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

My Biggest Problem

With keeping Gritz around is not paying him. Hell, it’s not my money. I just don’t think we have room for a brittle 2B (and that’s really all he can play at this point) on a 4-man bench. I’d rather keep Germie, who can embarrass himself at numerous positions and hits well enough.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Dec 1, 2008 6:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And if we kept him, I don't think it would be on the bench

I think if things worked out that he got offered arbitration and accepted, he’d be the starting 2B, at least until his whatever exploded and put him on the 60-day DL. You are certainly right that Callaspo and German are 2B enough for this team.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 1, 2008 6:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs