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Royals Set 25-Man Roster
The final cuts have been made and the Royals have announced their team for the Opener on Monday.
PITCHERS (11) – John Bale (L), Brian Bannister, Jimmy Gobble (L), Zack Greinke, Ron Mahay (L), Gil Meche, Leo Nunez, Ramon Ramirez, Joakim Soria, Brett Tomko and Yasuhiko Yabuta.
CATCHERS (3) – John Buck, Miguel Olivo and Matt Tupman.
INFIELDERS (7) – Billy Butler, Alberto Callaspo, Esteban German, Ross Gload, Alex Gordon, Mark Grudzielanek and Tony Pena, Jr.
OUTFIELDERS (4) – David DeJesus, Joey Gathright, Jose Guillen and Mark Teahen.
A couple of thoughts:
- Callaspo, German and Grudzielanek give this team basically three second basemen. That can’t be the way Dayton Moore imagined his roster would look back in December. And that certainly doesn’t bode well for this team.
The Royals sorely need to cut a deal. Callaspo is the new guy, so there’s no way he’s going anywhere. That leaves Grudz or German. I know the Royals love both German’s versatility and Grudz’s “veteran leadership.” It’s a tough call. I’d dangle both and deal whichever one nets the best return.
- I would have preferred the Royals had kept Justin Huber instead of Gathright, but that ship has sailed. No use crying over spilled milk, if you didn’t catch my previous cliche.
Besides, Gathright jumps over cars and pitchers - and they both come from Japan! That kind of effort just doesn’t show up in the box score, folks.
- Ryan Shealy was optioned to Omaha after hitting .280/.345/.600 in 50 spring at bats. So it would appear Ross Gload will get the bulk of playing time at first after a spring where he hit .242/.242/403.
What a bone-headed move.
Here’s the deal. We pretty much know what Gload is going to give the Royals: A batting average around .285 with seven or eight home runs. We can make that projection based on his past performance in over 800 major league at bats. For his career, he’s a .294 hitter and has 19 home runs.
Shealy, on the other hand, has half the number of at bats in his major league career. Will he ever hit for a higher average than Gload? Probably not. But he will provide something you’d like to have from your first baseman: Power. There’s been plenty of debate about exactly how much power Shealy will ever develop, but most baseball people believe he’s capable of 20-25 home runs if he plays everyday. That’s not much, but on a team that’s starved for home run power, that’s actually pretty significant.
I have nothing against Gload. He’s a solid player who provides value. But with his skill set, he’s more valuable as a back-up player.
It’s a 25-man roster, so it might seem like nitpicking to bitch about one spot. But Gload is going to receive too many chances to impact this team.
It smells like this move is about economics, and it stinks.
- Tupman, as we are all aware, will be optioned to Omaha once Olivo serves his four game suspension. Unfortunately, there’s no way the Royals will stick with 11 pitchers. Neal Musser and Joel Peralta were both late cuts, but Peralta was especially awful this spring.
- I asked for your predictions, and you guys really came through. I’ll tally everything up and have the results for you on Monday, along with some predictions from Royals fans around the ole blogosphere. Stay tuned.
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20 Responses to “Royals Set 25-Man Roster”
March 30th, 2008 at 6:18 am
There will be more roster moves; just keep the faith. Moore is waiting for the market to improve for our guys we need to move. Injuries happen, or guys get in trouble with the law, or whatever. We can start out with this roster, move guys like German (or Grudz or whomever) when a team is in a jam. The Royals must get off to a better start, to be sure, but this isn’t going to be a World Series year. If we can flip some of these guys for prospects, and build the foundation, we will be in the playoffs soon.
Gload is a great utitlity guy, but he even hits lefties better than righties. He even screws up to possibilities of a platoon at 1B (unless you platoon him with another lefty?).
March 30th, 2008 at 6:30 am
I bet we keep 11, Shealy comes back, two weeks later we trade German for a mid to high AA prospect and Peralta comes back up. Just kinda how I’m seeing things right now.
March 30th, 2008 at 6:32 am
Look at me, we? I use we like I’m part of the team or something. Like I have anything to do with the Royals other than the random tickets I buy to see the games when I get the chance to get back to KC to watch us play! Heh! Us?
March 30th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Something is still screwy. The Royals have 39 guys on the 40 man. This happens during the season from time to time but I don’t remember this happening before at the start of the season before.
March 30th, 2008 at 7:06 am
I think they showed their loyalty to Shealy when they re-signed Gload to a two year contract. I think Gload was the insurance policy, incase Bulter flubbed on first. He did. I think they will end up trading Shealy after the season is over.
I like the idea of trading both Grudz (age) and German. Grudz is a good contact hitter and can help a team get over the bump in a late July trade. I have no confidence in German, I think they should bring up someone like Angel Sanchez for utility. It would be good to give youth some time on the bench, especially someone who could take over Pena’s position within a year.
But, what do I know? I like the idea of picking up Dmitri Young and dumping Gload.
March 30th, 2008 at 7:53 am
We could use the Meat Hook. Hopefully nothing ever happens to Butler, but MH is DH-worthy as well at 1B. He gives us power we so desperately need. We have PLENTY of utility guys. Where did Jason Smith end up?
March 30th, 2008 at 7:59 am
I don’t think having three second baseman is any problem at all, ESPECIALLY when one of them is going to see a majority of his PT at SS, and the other can’t actually defend the position of second base.
I would love to see German get a majority of his starts in the outfield where he’s an average defender. Against lefties, why not put Teahen at first base and German at left field? It’s just one more guy with a career .370 OBP in the lineup.
German really doesn’t have a future with this team once he’s eligible for free agency, and Grudz is probably in his final year here, so I really don’t have a problem with them keeping 3 second basemen when those three players are all part of the nine most valuable players on offense. The optimal offensive lineup would look something like this:
DeJesus - CF
Grudzielanek - 2B
Gordon - 3B
Guillen - RF
Butler - DH
Teahen - 1B
German - LF
Callapso - SS
Buck - C
And I hope Hillman does play that lineup at least a few times this year.
P.S.-I don’t think Shealy is done here. He may begin the year in Omaha, but with the versatility we have, he’s up with the first offensive injury.
March 30th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I agree. Gload as the everyday first baseman seems to me to scream a defeatist attitude. It DOES smell of economics which disappoints me. Shealy did everything that he needed to do to earn his keep. Gload sucked. I do think Shealy comes back up soon. Maybe even when Olivo returns although I think that Peralta is the likely choice.
Also, is anyone concerned about Grudy’s status? He seems fragile and hasn’t been a role model on offense. Maybe keeping German and Callaspo DOES make sense cuz I don’t think Grudy is going to last long as the everyday guy.
March 30th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Why are so many people putting Teahen on first? If they wanted to go that route, they would have played him at first during Spring Training…from my understand, they didn’t or rarely did. Gload is going to be the everyday first baseman. They signed him to a TWO year contract in the offseason KNOWING they had Shealy, Butler and Huber. If they thought Huber or Shealy could do it, they would have never signed Gload to an extension.
Shealy has NOT proven he can hit MLB pitching like Gload. Gload hit .288 last year, which is .004 less than Butler!
Gload is better than Shealy. Gload is better than Huber. Shealy is going to be Hubered next year.
March 30th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Chris, perhaps we should argue that we need a first baseman OTHER than Gload or Shealy. I don’t think Gload is better than Shealy, but I can respect your reference to his BA. Gload has piqued. Shealy hasn’t. I still contend that KC will NOT succeed with Gload as the everyday first baseman. I’m not sure if moving Teahen there is the answer or not. But, I do know that KC needs to quit jerking Teahen around and give him a position for good. However, it would be nice to get Gath, DDJ and Guillen in the everday lineup. That only happens with Teahen at first. Again, I don’t know if that’s the best solution. Perhaps our next acquisition should be a first baseman. Maybe.
March 30th, 2008 at 10:29 am
I think we have a little more serious problem at Shortstop than First. Kansas City is just as likely not to succeed with Shealy as with Gload.
March 30th, 2008 at 11:00 am
There’s an elite stud HS shortstop in this year’s draft that could very well be available with the 3rd pick.
March 30th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I like Huber but he had to go-Gaithright much more useful with THIS team. Huber is Billy Butler light- they are similar players and Butler is better. Hillman is going to run with these guys-Gaithright stole 12-13 bases in ST and I think you will be pleasantly surprised by his little ball skills-Willy Tavares type season and yes I know that’s not all that but on THIS team it will be useful-
Shealy will be back I imagine when Olivio suspension is up- they do need to trade-is there a market for 2b’s?
March 30th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
From MLB Trade Rumors…
Rosenthal notes that the Dodgers will go with Blake DeWitt at third base who has never played a game above AA. This comes after the Dodgers failed to acquire either the Astros’ Mark Loretta, who was unavailable and the Royals’ Esteban German, who was too expensive. The Royals were asking for the Dodgers’ third best prospect, shortstop Chin-Lung Hu.
March 30th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Wow, a number 3 prospect for German? Wow. It would be worth trying…but when they don’t budge, try someone a little less. How about their #7 prospect or something.
But hey, big cudos for trying to go after a Shortstop…if this rumor is true, at least they are trying to find a solution for Pena. Hopefully they will be able to unload German and Grudz before the deadline.
March 30th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Moore has to be smarter than to demand the 3rd-best prospect for German. I would think a top 10 prospect would be a coup. While bouncing around a list of needs, a prospect at catcher would be a great idea. Buck or Olivio may develop, but I don’t think there’s much certainty there. And Tupman probably won’t be more than a good second catcher. Once again, I don’t think Moore needs to make a move right away.
March 30th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Wow! We haven’t even lost our first game yet, and you guys are all negative!
Here’s the deal: Once the Dodgers have had a couple of weeks with Blake DeWitt at 3B, they will figure out a way to make a deal for German. Then we can call up Shealy, and move Gload back to his best role - Super Utility Man.
In the meantime, did you see what Odalis Perez did? 5 innings of 1-run ball! How much better is our pitching now, when the Opening Day Starter for the Washington Nationals doesn’t even get a contract offer?
March 31st, 2008 at 5:59 am
I wonder if the Guillen decision was involved in the Shealy decision. With Guillen getting a Ten Day delay in his suspension just didn’t leave room for Shealy. I’m surprised Peralta didn’t make the team despite his bad spring. On the otherhand I am pleasantly surprised Nunez did make it.
And if you want an economic decision then you have Brett Tomko. This guy had better figure out what he has been lacking for ten years quick because the KC fans are going to eat him alive. Why would you finally get out from under the Elarton deal just to sign a clone??
March 31st, 2008 at 7:30 am
Whether you’re pessimistic, optimistic, comfortable or confused about the current state of our 25-man roster, we all have on thing in common - we sense (know?) a trade is looming. It’s a long season, folks, and…
IN GMDM WE TRUST!
March 31st, 2008 at 8:09 am
Chief - I watched all of the Nationals’ game last night. Freaking Odalis Perez as your opening day starter. After the game, Gammons was interviewing Ryan Zimmerman who said “we’re tired of getting beat up and that’s going to change this year”. My wife responded “Son, if Odalis Perez is your opening day starter, get used to getting beat up.”
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