Why are the Royals spending big money on players that aren't that good?

Question

If you're going to overpay....why not go for Zito and Schmidt?

Answer 1

3 years ago everyone laughed at the Tigers for spending big money on the likes of Pudge Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez. Admittedly at the time it was a gamble but it showed potential free agents that the Tigers were serious about stopping their losing ways and more importantly it showed the fans that they were finally willing to re-commit to improving and trying to win ballgames. Well it worked!!.... The Tigers are now considered to be among the best and look like perennial contenders for the foreseeable future.
I think that the Royals are following that blueprint and have decided to re-commit themselves to a return to their better days. When you have performed like they have lately then they have to "show em the money" to get the rebuilding process under way. Zito and other top free agents wont sign with a team they perceive as heading nowhere so the Royals are gambling that Meche's head catches up with his abilities (he actually has an above average major league arm, just hasnt put it together yet).Give the Royals some time and a lot of credit...they appear headed for better days.

Answer 2

The problem with the Royals is that it is difficult to attract good players to come and play there because the team has been so bad for so long. Most good players want to play on a good team assuming that the money is the same. As the Royals also have limited financial resources, they couldn't afford an $100 million contract for Zito, and Schmidt wanted to play on the West Coast. They needed to overpay the ones they did get to buy some credibility. Once they get to a competitive level, it will be much easier to attract good free agents if that is the direction they wanted to go. However, they have some good young players in the minors including Alex Gordon and they just need some mid level free agents now to hold their place until the kids are ready.

Famous GM Branch Rickey wrote a book on how to assemble a winning team. He would start with a core of young players about the same age. When that team was nearing it's peak he would go get some established players through free agency or trades to fill in. It doesn't help if the Royals spent a lot on a few players right now like Zito because it still wouldn't help them be competitive. The time to jump into big free agents is in a few years if these young players develop into stars.

Answer 3

First things first, Dayton Moore isn't an idiot. He was one of the minds behind the Braves incredible run of division championships.

Moving on. The Royals aren't spending big money on players that aren't that good. They are spending big money, because they're the Royals and you have to spend big money to draw in talent. No free agent thinks to himself, "Gee I'd like to win 20 games and make the playoffs...I think I'll sign with Kansas City."

For that very reason players need to receive some incentive (ie: money) to play for a rebuilding club. Meche and Dotel are both good fits. Meche, 28, will almost certainly be deemed the staff ace and although he doesn't have an incredible Major League dossier he is a solid-pitcher, which is why his stock was so high this off-season. In a good rotation he is a number 3 or 4, in this rotation, he is the ace. Octavio Dotel brings a veteran presence to the bullpen and proven track-record as a closer. Assuming his injury woes are behind him, his signing could prove the craftiest move of the off-season.

For the most part the Royals have a solid core of young players to man the field with hot hands like Mark Teahen, Alex Gordon, Ryan Shealy and John Buck the team has established it's core for the future. Now the plan is to put some established arms on the hill and see if the combination can produce a winner while the younger arms continue to progress.

Honestly, for a good baseball town like Kansas City, I think this is a step in the right direction. The town needs a sign from management that every year isn't a rebuilding year and if the club spends some money that's a sign that the team is getting serious about building a contender.

Answer 4

Gil Meche isn't a bad pitcher, and the $11m per year isn't that horrible when you look at the contracts received by Ted Lilly and Vicente Padilla. In my opinion, they're just following the market.

Going for Schmidt or Zito would have been much more expensive. Meche gets $55 for 5 years, whereas Schmidt would have been in the $75 million range for the same length of contract, and Zito is likely to command $80-$90 million for 5 years.

The Royals are working with some pretty limited resources, so I think they should be commended for at least trying to improve the team. There's a long way to go, but it beats not doing anything in the market.

Answer 5

The Royals are trying to get better.
When you've been as bad The Royals have been, sometimes you take a chance on certain players.

The price they paid wasn't too bad, compared to what Zito will get.

And KC has a new GM (I forgot his name, but I think he was with Atlanta) so he does have the expereince. It's going to take KC a few years to get respectable again, but it will happen.

And they have to start somewhere.

Mark my words, in about 3-4 years KC will be a serious contender.

Answer 6

1. they suck
2. they need to sell tickets
3. they sucked last year too
4. new GM trying to make a name for himself
5. they sucked 2 years ago
6. they are trying to build credibility
7. i agree with that they are following the market trend and will be up again in about 4 years time.

Answer 7

There really isn't a clear cut answer I dont think. I think when you say aren't that good you may not be giving them the best answers. Gil Meche isn't bad at all, and I think when your as bad as the Royals you will take whoever you can get, I think they will slightly improve, but not much.

Answer 8

They are trying to look like they are looking to put a winning team together for their fans.

Answer 9

Signing Meche was the stupidest thing they could have done.

Answer 10

Because they have a moronic GM? or is it that they just suck?