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By Tim Dierkes [July 1, 2008 at 1:17pm CST]
According to the Kansas City Star's Bob Dutton, Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek would like to play two or three more years. Grudzielanek, 38, is hitting a healthy .307/.365/.406 in 269 plate appearances. He's earning $4.5MM this year.
Dutton notes the Royals' other second base options, and wonders if the team will shop Grudzielanek this month. Grudzielanek is undecided as to whether he'd prefer to stay in Kansas City beyond this year.
The Blue Jays and Dodgers seem like possibilities. However, the Jays have Joe Inglett playing well and Jeff Kent had a decent June for the Dodgers. There is not an obvious suitor for Grudzielanek.
Why not back to the Cards? I doubt it would take much to get him, and he would fit solidly in that 2 spot in the line-up.
Posted by: MK1Lynx | July 01, 2008 at 01:50 PM
They seem alright with Aaron Miles though.
Posted by: Tim Dierkes | July 01, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Yea, he's done a phenomenal job for them thus far. But I fear that he may end up getting over-exposed. He's still best served as a utility man. Tony can always find a way to get him 2-3 starts a game even if we had Grudzielanek.
Posted by: MK1Lynx | July 01, 2008 at 02:59 PM
He's also extremely solid with the glove, and would be a poor man's Ellis/Hudson. last year, via plus/minus, he was at +7 (10th best in all o baseball). Ellis was at +19 (4th) and Hudston at +20 (3rd). And he's not far behind those two with the bat, with a 105+ OPS season this year. Given his age, you wouldn't really want to do a multi-year deal though.
Posted by: Nny | July 01, 2008 at 03:34 PM
Why not him going to Baltimore? Replacement for Roberts?
Posted by: cubs land | July 01, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Heck, why wouldn't the Orioles play him at SS? His range would be terrible, but if they're seriously considering Felipe Lopez, I don't think Grudzielanek would be worse in the field. And at least he can hit.
Posted by: ColonelTom | July 02, 2008 at 10:23 AM
This is ridiculous - Grudzielanek can't handle the artificial turf in TO, he rarely plays there when visiting. I personally would love to have him, but I'd be shocked if it ever happened.
Plus, his family is in California, and he's played for the Dodgers before. (Granted, they treated him like crap, but combined with the turf issue? LA over TO would be my guess.)
Posted by: pbettany | July 04, 2008 at 11:49 AM