Royals looking for CFer

[traderumor]

Center Fielders On Royals' Radar
By Tim Dierkes [January 6, 2010 at 12:46pm CST]
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick names three free agents on the Royals' radar for center field: Rick Ankiel, Scott Podsednik, and Randy Winn. It should be noted that none of the three logged 500 innings in center in '09. Crasnick's source doesn't see the Royals spending much more than $2MM on a one-year deal, so playing time could be the biggest selling point. Coco Crisp at $5.25MM coming off two shoulder surgeries might be seen as an overpay by Oakland, if these other free agents sign for less than half that.

My guess is that Scott Boras will end up finding a reasonable one-year deal for Ankiel, much as he did for Joe Crede last year. Beyond the Pirates, we haven't heard much from other Ankiel suitors. Podsednik could land with the Giants or Tigers, while Winn is being courted by the Padres and D'Backs.

We have an extra CFer. Walt, here ya go, PTBNL or cash. Give 'em Willy T.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by traderumor

We have an extra CFer. Walt, here ya go, PTBNL or cash. Give 'em Willy T.

http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2009...day/#more-2941

Depressing Royals Story of the Day
Posted: December 23rd, 2009 | Filed under: Baseball | 89 Comments »


Well, the Kansas City Royals signed outfielder Brian Anderson for $700,000 plus incentives, making them the only team in baseball history so far to have BOTH Brian Andersons. So there is that.


This Brian Anderson can be called Brian N. Anderson — the N is for “Nikola” — and he has a career 69 OPS+ in 883 plate appearances. Much of that 69, to be fair, comes from his dreadful 2004 season when he hit .225/.290/.359. Since then, his OPS+ has been a more robust 75. And while he has no power, and has been caught stealing more times than he has been successful, and has a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 65-208, he does have a reputation as a good outfielder even though those rascally defensive numbers don’t show it.

Here’s the thing: Last year, there were seven players in baseball who qualified for the batting title with OPS+ of 80 or less. You got that number in mind? Seven.

– Two of those players — Yuniesky Betancourt and Jason Kendall — have been locked up by the Royals.

– Jose Guillen had an OPS+ of 80, but did not get enough at-bats to qualify for the batting title — he and his $13 million contract will be in the everyday lineup as either a DH or (gasp) a right fielder.

– Chris Getz, who had an OPS+ of 74 in 415 plate appearances (not enough to qualify) was acquired by the Royals and figures to be in the everyday lineup at second base.

– And now, Brian N. Anderson, with his career 69 OPS+ is the leading candidate to be the Opening Day centerfielder.

So — there were seven every day players in all of baseball last year with OPS+ of 80 or less. The Royals project to have FIVE IN THEIR OPENING DAY LINEUP. And that is assuming that Josh Fields, with his 68 OPS+ in 268 plate appearances last year, does not win a place in the lineup. And he could. The Royals like his bat.

[BRM]

So — there were seven every day players in all of baseball last year with OPS+ of 80 or less. The Royals project to have FIVE IN THEIR OPENING DAY LINEUP.

That is very, very sad.

[Handofdeath]

Just kill me please.

[SirFelixCat]

Originally Posted by BRM

That is very, very sad.

Ouch...that's brutal.

[klw]

If Greinke wins 10 games next year he could repeat at Cy Young with that behind him.

[Handofdeath]

I would never wish for the death of someone, but I will so glad when David Glass is no longer the owner of the Royals. He's worse than Donald Sterling, at least Sterling spends money.

[Raisor]

Of the Reds top 8 hitters (by number of PA's), three had sub 85 OPS+.

I wouldn't worry about the Royals.

[traderumor]

Originally Posted by Raisor

Of the Reds top 8 hitters (by number of PA's), three had sub 85 OPS+.

I wouldn't worry about the Royals.

Apples to Apples

2010 Projected OD Lineup with current roster
C - Hanigan/Hernandez 84
1B - Votto 155
2B - Phillips 102
SS - Janish 59
3B - Rolen 117
LF - Nix 98 Balentien 104
CF - Stubbs 99
RF - Bruce 100

1 below 80

[camisadelgolf]

Originally Posted by Raisor

Of the Reds top 8 hitters (by number of PA's), three had sub 85 OPS+.

I wouldn't worry about the Royals.

That might be a little misleading imo. Hairston and Hernandez were two of those guys, and they both had an 84 OPS+. It really wouldn't have been a big deal if other players (i.e. Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips picked up the slack) or if Willy Taveras (48 OPS+) weren't dragging the team down so much.

Fwiw, the Rockies made it to the playoffs this year with three of their top eight hitters having a sub-85 OPS+:
84+ Clint Barmes
66+ Garrett Atkins
79+ Ryan Spilborghs

[BRM]

Originally Posted by camisadelgolf

Fwiw, the Rockies made it to the playoffs this year with three of their top eight hitters having a sub-85 OPS+:
84+ Clint Barmes
66+ Garrett Atkins
79+ Ryan Spilborghs

Atkins was a bench player the second half and Spilborghs was never an everyday guy. He was their 4th outfielder.

[TheNext44]

Originally Posted by BRM

Atkins was a bench player the second half and Spilborghs was never an everyday guy. He was their 4th outfielder.

Same could be said for Janish and Rosales for the Reds. Neither really were everyday players for the whole year. I think there are a lot of teams, especially mid market ones, that have 2-3 sub 80 OPS+ guys getting too many AB's.

But to have 5 of your starting 8 to be projected to be that bad is almost criminal.

[camisadelgolf]

Originally Posted by BRM

Atkins was a bench player the second half and Spilborghs was never an everyday guy. He was their 4th outfielder.

I'd think it's probably unusual for an NL team to have eight 'everyday' players lead a team in plate appearances. Jonny Gomes and Laynce Nix were both in the top-eight but were both considered to be part of a platoon. Willy Taveras lost his position to Drew Stubbs by the end of the season. Jerry Hairston (5th on the team in PA) was traded at the deadline. Paul Janish was 11th on the team in PA despite leading the team in games at SS. AGon led the team in starts at SS and was below Janish in PA.

[Raisor]

Originally Posted by camisadelgolf

That might be a little misleading imo.

A LITTLE misleading?

I thought it was a LOT misleading.

[traderumor]

Originally Posted by Raisor

A LITTLE misleading?

I thought it was a LOT misleading.

I think he was referring to your post. You seemed to be saying that the Reds head into OD in worse shape, but the folks you referenced, only the catchers and Janish will likely be in the Reds OD lineup. Plus, you used the benchmark of 85, while the other commentary used 80. The Reds lineup is not top 5 on paper, but it is at least middle of the pack. If that is the Royals OD lineup, it is predictably anemic.