Sorry about the lack of posts in recent days, but finally we have something to report on in these winter meetings. According to Bob Dutton of the KC star the Royals have offered Jason Kendall a two year deal. Last season Kendall had a triple slash of .241/.331/.305 and for this season baseball guru Bill James predicts a similar line of .254/.338/.320. Kendall will be 35 on opening day and while he is not the player that he once was he does seem to be one of the more bearable options of this year's free agent crop. I would prefer that the Royals pry a young catcher away from another team that we can have for the minimum a couple of years. However, since I doubt this opportunity will present itself a one or two year stopgap seems like a good strategy given the depth of catching prospects at the lower levels of the system.
The Royals have also been linked with Ivan Rodriguez, before he signed with the Nationals, Rod Barajas, Yorvit Torrealba, and Jose Molina. The Royals need to find a cheap catching option and as far as the catchers listed here, Kendall is probably in the middle of the pack so if he can be had for a cheap price on a two year deal, then it is a move that is not going to hurt us down the road. The last thing the Royals should do though is annie up 7+ million over the next two for a catcher that is average at best.
Hopefully, if Kendall accepts the deal his offense can stay where it has been the last few years, he can strengthen the defense, and his veteranship can provide positives for the pitching staff.
Jason Kendall was a great catcher and leader for the Milwaukee Brewers the past two years. He is a great defensive player... However, in Milwaukee, Kendall always seemed to get the big hit when it didn't matter. Bases loaded and nobody out, Kendall = double play. Bases empty two outs, Kendall = double or triple. It always confused me. But still, a great catcher, offense can be shaky.
ReplyDeleteAt least we won't have to watch Olivio swing with his eyes closed any more. As annoying as that was his VORP last year was still 15 and his line was .249/.292/.490 which is better than Kendals NEGATIVE VORP and his line. Even John Buck had a better year 247/.299/.484. with a vorp of 6.6. Buck and Olivio may not be hall of famers but they were in the royals top six in VORP last year. Who was number one? Al"booto" Callaspo with 35.1 who we are shopping? I have now offically lost all faith in DMGM
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Kendall will improve in the American League.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that Dayton Moore knows what VORP is, but it is my opinion that had Buck received the same amount of at bats as Olivo he would have finished the year with very similar offensive numbers. The issue with both of those players is that they can't play defense. So I wouldn't mind seeing an improvement there except that Moore has already said he doesn't understand defensive metrics so who knows if Kendall's defense has been evaluated correctly.
ReplyDeleteJohn- Your statement is just oozing with sarcasm.
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