According to Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star, catcher Miguel Olivo won’t be back with the Royals in 2009. (Olivo’s exact words: "Hell no.") Olivo’s $2.7MM option for ’09 is mutual, so he’ll decline it even if the Royals exercise it. Olivo is upset about his lack of playing time, but he knew John Buck was part of the team when he signed.
Olivo, 30, is hitting .264/.291/.472 in 261 plate appearances. As Mellinger points out, that ugly OBP is actually a career high. To his credit, Olivo has hit lefties well and gunned down a healthy 37.9% of attempted thieves. Olivo will join a poor free agent class of catchers.
