Royals sign Greinke to extention through 2012.

[KowboyKoop]

Buys out two years of FA. More details to come.

Now this is a Royals transaction actually worth discussing. I'll look forward to reading about what a bad move this is.

[TheNamelessPoet]

anyone that wrote that TAHT was a bad move should have their fingers removed. NOW the question is... do you think it is so they can get more if they trade him?

[KowboyKoop]

Don't worry, somebody will bash the move and say that since we can't even win 65 games next year..we should've just traded him and focused on rebuilding for the next five years.


No, I don't see him as a trade possibility for the forseeable future. I think Moore believes the division is weak enough (and it is) that the Royals can contend if enough things go right. I think a lot would have to go our way...but I can see an outside possibility..so I think Moore will keep everyone around mostly and try to contend this year and the next couple.

[TheNamelessPoet]

In the weekend state of the division... I agree. Th eonly problem is... Detroit is going to be much better next year aznd I think CLEveland will as well. No CC hurts but I dont think cripples them. the WSox I think played better than they were. I must admit id like to see the Royals compete but i dont think quite yet... tho it wont be too far off. I thihk a trade of Grenke midseason this year or next would net teh team a BOATLOAD of prospects.

A deal like the Santana deal could benefit this team greatly.

[justanewguy]

Great deal!

This could be the beginning of securing a fantastic young corps of players. Greinke, Gordon, Aviles...

What many people don't realize is that the Royals are a really solid team all around, and could make a push this season at a division that may be up for grabs.

[HoustonGM]

anyone that wrote that TAHT was a bad move should have their fingers removed. NOW the question is... do you think it is so they can get more if they trade him?

I can't recall any case where a team extended a player's contract in an effort to trade him. Locking a player up long term signals a commitment to him for the time being.

Don't worry, somebody will bash the move and say that since we can't even win 65 games next year..we should've just traded him and focused on rebuilding for the next five years.

Is it fair to say you're overreacting just a bit?

In the weekend state of the division... I agree. Th eonly problem is... Detroit is going to be much better next year aznd I think CLEveland will as well.

Cleveland is likely to be better than they were in 2008. Detroit, though?

the WSox I think played better than they were.

Probably, and they haven't exactly improved over the offseason.

I thihk a trade of Grenke midseason this year or next would net teh team a BOATLOAD of prospects.

Greinke is a young pitcher with a sterling scouting report and results to match it. He's not a guy you trade for prospects for the future. He's the guy you keep to build around for the future.

[KowboyKoop]

In the weekend state of the division... I agree. Th eonly problem is... Detroit is going to be much better next year aznd I think CLEveland will as well. No CC hurts but I dont think cripples them. the WSox I think played better than they were. I must admit id like to see the Royals compete but i dont think quite yet... tho it wont be too far off. I thihk a trade of Grenke midseason this year or next would net teh team a BOATLOAD of prospects.

A deal like the Santana deal could benefit this team greatly.

Detroit's pitching looks AWFUL heading into next season....and Cleveland's doesn't look much better. Detroit may be better than last year...but I don't see them being a contender. Verlander was bad last year, Bonderman was hurt and who knows with him, Edwin Jackson isn't that good.....question marks everywhere else. Same with Cleveland, I think..outside of Lee. Lots of question marks. Things could go well for either team...but I don't think it should be expected. Their offenses will have to carry them for the most part..I think..and that very well could happen. I think it's a wide open division..no team looks great, but no team looks downright awful.

[KowboyKoop]

Great deal!

This could be the beginning of securing a fantastic young corps of players. Greinke, Gordon, Aviles...

What many people don't realize is that the Royals are a really solid team all around, and could make a push this season at a division that may be up for grabs.

We don't need to lock up Aviles. By the time he's a FA, he'll be like..32 or 33.

I think a lot would have to break out way to contend for the division...but who knows. I think the Twins are the favorite.

[KowboyKoop]

Is it fair to say you're overreacting just a bit?




Cleveland is likely to be better than they were in 2008. Detroit, though?


Probably, and they haven't exactly improved over the offseason.


Greinke is a young pitcher with a sterling scouting report and results to match it. He's not a guy you trade for prospects for the future. He's the guy you keep to build around for the future.

Not really. Just wait...someone will criticize it. If not..then I'm wrong, but I highly doubt it.

[filihok]

The Twins are clearly the favorite

Detroit has a defensive infield that can actually get in front of a ball, so that'll help the pitchers a bit

[justanewguy]

We don't need to lock up Aviles. By the time he's a FA, he'll be like..32 or 33.

I think a lot would have to break out way to contend for the division...but who knows. I think the Twins are the favorite.

I just mean having security in the infield and the front of the rotation without it being a revolving door... not necessarily talking contracts, just referring to a young group of players that will be around for several years.

The White Sox played over their heads last season, and the Twins did too, to a lesser degree. There's no reason the Royals couldn't do the same in '09. I'd agree the Twins are the favorites as of now, but as you said above, there's no clearcut runaway favorite here, and no team looks bad. I wouldn't pick the Royals, but they're an ever-improving team in a chaotic division.

[KowboyKoop]

I just mean having security in the infield and the front of the rotation without it being a revolving door... not necessarily talking contracts, just referring to a young group of players that will be around for several years.

The White Sox played over their heads last season, and the Twins did too, to a lesser degree. There's no reason the Royals couldn't do the same in '09. I'd agree the Twins are the favorites as of now, but as you said above, there's no clearcut runaway favorite here, and no team looks bad. I wouldn't pick the Royals, but they're an ever-improving team in a chaotic division.

Ah, got ya..misunderstood you on that one. You're right....a nice core is possibly emerging.

I definitely agree that the White Sox shouldn't be nearly as good in '09..but I said that about them before the '08 season too..so who knows. I think the Twins are clearly the favorite...but yeah..just five middling/average teams...anything could happen.

[bucher34]

You guys keep saying that the White Sox played over their heads last season or played way beyond their talent, but I honestly disagree. They have talent. Yeah, they haven't done much (yet) this offseason, but they have basically their core group of guys returning.

Floyd wasn't a fluke, Danks wasn't a fluke, Buehrle is Buehrle, Alexi wasn't a fluke, and they still have Dye, A.J. (who is really good with the pitching staff), Jenks, Konerko (a fluke season), and a respectable bullpen. I feel that they are the favorites as they have more pieces than the Twins and arguably the best "all-around" team in the division.

If anybody played way over their heads last season it was the Twins. The Tigers have no pitching and the Indians are confusing. I don't know what direction they are trying to go in. The Royals have a respectable young pitching staff (at least the first few) and a nice group of young guys on offense.

I truly believe that the White Sox are the favorites, but the rest of the division is a toss up.

Can anybody show me different?

[bucher34]

The White Sox played over their heads last season

Clarify?

[KowboyKoop]

You guys keep saying that the White Sox played over their heads last season or played way beyond their talent, but I honestly disagree. They have talent. Yeah, they haven't done much (yet) this offseason, but they have basically their core group of guys returning.

Floyd wasn't a fluke, Danks wasn't a fluke, Buehrle is Buehrle, Alexi wasn't a fluke, and they still have Dye, A.J. (who is really good with the pitching staff), Jenks, Konerko (a fluke season), and a respectable bullpen. I feel that they are the favorites as they have more pieces than the Twins and arguably the best "all-around" team in the division.

If anybody played way over their heads last season it was the Twins. The Tigers have no pitching and the Indians are confusing. I don't know what direction they are trying to go in. The Royals have a respectable young pitching staff (at least the first few) and a nice group of young guys on offense.

I truly believe that the White Sox are the favorites, but the rest of the division is a toss up.

Can anybody show me different?

Gavin Floyd was a fluke. 4.78 FIP last year. xFIP of 4.61 last year. Expect his ERA to go back to the mid to upper 4s next year. That doesn't mean he sucks, but he's not as good as he was last year. If Alexei Ramirez doesn't learn to draw a walk..he'll be exposed too. Losing Vazquez doesn't help. The ChiSox don't suck...but all they've done is get older and their pitching should be worse than last year. I don't think they'll tank...but I don't think they are the favorites in the division.