Royals sign 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff to minor league deal

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 14, 2012 9:52 AM EST

HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 23: Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff #15 of the Colorado Rockies fields a hard hit ball by Chris Johnson #23 of the Houston Astros in the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park on September 23, 2011 in Houston, Texas. Houston won 11-2. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Chris Truby. Josh Fields. Pedro Feliz. Every year the Royals bring in a veteran third baseman for seemingly no reason other than to give Omaha fans something to cheer about. This year, that man is Kevin Kouzmanoff. The Royals signed the 30 year old third baseman to a minor league deal early Saturday morning. Kouzmanoff will make $1 million in Schrute Bucks if he is on the MLB roster, with incentives reaching up to $1.3 million. He also has an opt-out if he is not on the MLB roster by May 1.

Kouzmanoff seemed promising once upon a time when he mashed in the Indians organization. He was dealt to the Padres for second baseman Josh Barfield in a challenge trade of promising prospects. As Barfield was busting, Kouzmanoff was proving to be a league average third baseman in San Diego. Then he was dealt to Oakland, where hitting careers go to die. He posted a .666 OPS in a season and a half in Oakland before being let go and latching on with Colorado. Overall he hit .235/.284/.372 last year in 257 PAs.

Kouzmanoff gives Moustakas some competition and provides some insurance should Moose be totally overwhelmed by Major League algebra problems.

We cannot have enough depth. Those intra-squad games played in Arizona in February are what is key to post-season drives.

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Comments

Depth move.

Cool.

I'm a 14 year old freshman in high school with a love for all things Royals and Packers.

2012 is the year we shine.

by Jack Marsh on Jan 14, 2012 10:23 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

they need someone to back up Yuni!!!

by DickHowser4ever on Jan 14, 2012 10:24 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Seems like the Royals are doing everything possible

to either push Moose or put him back in the minors.

"Yeah, the maple kind, right?"

by Karte on Jan 14, 2012 10:57 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

It's a depth move.

Unless they have some reason to doubt Moose’s work ethic…and from what I have heard, it’s an attribute of his.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 14, 2012 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

obviously

this means Moose's days are numbered<code>

Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."

--Albert Einstein

by Home Run Tony Cogan on Jan 14, 2012 11:16 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

sarcasm fail

Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."

--Albert Einstein

by Home Run Tony Cogan on Jan 14, 2012 11:16 AM EST reply actions

There was a lot more in that post that failed than just the sarcasm... haha

by MVP-Gordon on Jan 14, 2012 11:17 AM EST up reply actions

thanks

Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts."

--Albert Einstein

by Home Run Tony Cogan on Jan 14, 2012 11:33 AM EST up reply actions

Back to back spring training champs

Do these effectively hide my thunder?

by splitty on Jan 14, 2012 11:34 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions 1 recs

Beat me to it...

Cactus League dominance. I would totally pay for a 2011 cactus league champions shirt if they existed.

I am the one who knocks.

by PhattStairs on Jan 14, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

GMDM is all in

"The Jaguars need Jacksonville, and Jacksonville needs the Jaguars"
-Shahid Khan

by tiquanunderwear on Jan 14, 2012 11:37 AM EST reply actions

Not a bad depth pickup

Kouzmanoff complements Moustakas fairly well as a right-handed hitter and very good defender.

by Gopherballs on Jan 14, 2012 11:42 AM EST reply actions

I'm too lazy and ignant to look

I thought he had a rep for being a good glove guy, do the various fielding measures support that?

by Nighthawk at the Diner on Jan 14, 2012 12:03 PM EST up reply actions

Yes

You may know me as NYRoyal.

by Scott McKinney on Jan 14, 2012 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

how valuable is having a defensive replacment at the corners for overall strategery?

by Nighthawk at the Diner on Jan 14, 2012 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

Not very

And they aren’t going to put in a defensive sub for Moose anyway. He’s strictly a 3B backup, or a poor pinch hitter.

You may know me as NYRoyal.

by Scott McKinney on Jan 14, 2012 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

I was just curious what his splits looked like.

Career wRC+ of 107 against lefties.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 14, 2012 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Unfortunately his hitting has cratered in the last couple of seasons. Looks like he can’t hit anything well anymore.

You may know me as NYRoyal.

by Scott McKinney on Jan 14, 2012 3:36 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah.

That split is above average because of numbers he put up more than 2 years ago. 96 and 89 vs lefties in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Very small sample though.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 14, 2012 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

Their names are also very complementary

KOOOOOOZE!!!!

by Loose Seal on Jan 14, 2012 12:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Can he pitch?

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Jan 14, 2012 11:46 AM EST reply actions

Mitch can

"The Jaguars need Jacksonville, and Jacksonville needs the Jaguars"
-Shahid Khan

by tiquanunderwear on Jan 14, 2012 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

Am I wrong to think this puts Getz on notice?

I could see keeping Kouzmanoff and Yuni while dumping Getz. Hasn’t he played in the outfield too?

If you don't expect too much from me, you might not be let down
-Gin Blossoms

by royaldaddy on Jan 14, 2012 12:53 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

A nice thought.

But I’m not sure if Kouzmanoff is an upgrade over Getz except in respect to his defense at 3B. Which leaves everything else. He’s right-handed? We already have a ton of right-handed hitters though.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 14, 2012 3:40 PM EST up reply actions

If this means a bench of Kouz, Yuni, Dyson or Maier and C

I’d be ok with that cause Getz would likely be in Omaha.

Checkout Royals minor league notes at www.14for77.blogspot.com

by kcscoliny on Jan 14, 2012 12:55 PM EST reply actions

Kouz provides a RH bat off the bench with a decent power numbers. An idea that Yost is in love with...

if Kouz is even remotely servicable at SS and 2B, then this might even put Yuni on notice…..of course this just might be me dreaming again.

by DickHowser4ever on Jan 14, 2012 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

I would rather have Kouzmanoff on the 25-man than Getz.

Sporadically musing on the Royals at both Royals Review and Royalscentricity, pop culture at Inconsiderate Prick, SVU at Munch My Benson and on Twitter at Old Man Duggan

by Old Man Duggan on Jan 14, 2012 1:52 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't.

I think the team is better equipped with Getz’s skillset off the bench, and that’s saying something. Very importantly, Getz hitting left-handed.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 14, 2012 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

Getz Doesn't Hit

RHP as well as Kousmanoff.

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

by philofthenorth on Jan 14, 2012 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

Are you basing that on his career numbers?

Because he hasn’t hit nearly as well in the last 2 years. Just checking.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 14, 2012 7:53 PM EST up reply actions

Even Then They're

Roughly the same, with Kouz occasionally hitting the ball out of the infield. For his career, Getz has a reverse split. Some people were just done with Aviles; I’m done with Getz.

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

by philofthenorth on Jan 14, 2012 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

Also, Kouz spent four years in

the pitcher friendly parks of SD and Oakland, which tip things ever so slightly in his favor.

"There is nothing shrewd about running a red light and later finding out it kept you from being hit by an asteroid." - philofthenorth

by KeepItCopacetic on Jan 14, 2012 8:04 PM EST up reply actions

Well, what is odd about that...

In 2008, in Petco, Kouz hit about an equal number of HRs home and away, but his batting average was much better away from Petco. Seems very odd. Just not sure if there’s a conclusion that can be made either way.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 14, 2012 8:20 PM EST up reply actions