Royals Stabilize 2011 Starting Rotation With Jeff Francis Signing

Either he is injury prone and he doesn’t reach his incentives or he pitches 140 IP into July and he is flipped for some prospects like you mentioned.

Sounds fine to me either way, I don’t really see much negative downside to this. TRUST THE PROCESS I will Dayton!

I really hope, in an emotional way, that Luke Hochevar is considerably better than Jeff Francis this season. It’s possible that Vin Mazzaro puts a better season together than Francis.

But at the very least, FWIW, the Royals just signed their #3 starter for $2-$4M, and potentially their staff ace for 2011. At least until the trade deadline.

I like the addition of Francis. He’s the exact kind of filler that we should be looking for. When I started reading around the rumor sites that Pavano was being looked at for a possible 3 year deal my heart sank. This signing is a very positive move IMO.

I have no problem with Francis. It’s nice too see a lefty in the rotation.

I hope he stays healthy and makes a strong case for himself, because the eventual trade of him would land some more prospects.

The Kansas City Prospect Machine.

How does this affect Everett Teaford?

Doug Tucker posted this on Yahoo Sports

Quotes from Francis

"I’ve been feeling really good," he said. "I’ve been able to do anything I wanted to up to this point. I’m excited about it. I’ll be ready to go for spring training."

For his career, Francis is 55-50 with a 4.77 ERA in 150 appearances, all but one as a starter.

"I sort of tailed off at the end of (2010) with a bit of shoulder soreness," he said. "Numbers-wise, a lot of things have to go a pitcher’s way to achieve certain numbers goals. For me, I concentrate on what I need to do to throw strikes and get people out. I think that’s what’s going to make a pitcher successful, to concentrate on what he can control."

Francis pitched well at times last year and showed flashes of the same pitcher from 2007. His arm strength and endurance weren’t quite 100% yet, and he would get hit around in the 4th or 5th inning of his starts, but still put up some of the best peripherals of his career.

He’s my all-time favorite Rockies pitcher, and I love him dearly. He’s a smart guy, and a great clubhouse player.

Now this gives me a legitimate reason to watch Royals games, and maybe make the trek across Kansas this year to see him in person.

I said it earlier, the Royals have such a tiny payroll. This deal is worth it.

IF we can get 10-12 wins from Francis with a near 4 ERA, perfect.

HE would have some value in a trade, or to keep.

I’m scared.

STABILITY NOW!

Seriously, this is a fine signing. Short term with upside, he does not block anyone or suck money out of the payroll for several years.

It also gives us something we did not have before: A pitcher who has shown the ability to be an average or above starter.
(Picking out Hochevar’s flashes of brilliance amid seasons of suck does not count)

We really have the veteran leadership to teach us how to lose the World Series now!

What’s the over/under on number of starts SOS makes this year before being cut/demoted?