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Royals Face Options On Crisp, Olivo
MLB.com's Dick Kaegel takes a look at the Royals' two contract option decisions, which are due ten days after the World Series.
Kaegel believes the Royals will consider Coco Crisp's $500K buyout an easy choice over his $8MM option. However, Kaegel wonders if the Royals will then offer Crisp a new incentive-laden deal. Crisp said in August, "I don't know. It'd be nice to stay for a while. I like it here." The 29-year-old center fielder had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders this summer. The weak free agent market for center fielders should work in his favor.
Catcher Miguel Olivo has a $3.3MM mutual option; both Kaegel and Royals GM Dayton Moore believe he'll test the free agent market. Catchers are also in short supply this year. While Olivo slugged 23 home runs this year, his OBP was just .292.
Don't forget the Royals' two primary non-tender candidates: first baseman Mike Jacobs and catcher John Buck. Kaegel says the Royals intend to "re-cast" their catching situation, so Buck is probably destined for free agency. It doesn't make sense to tender a contract to Jacobs, who earned $3.25MM this year and hit just .228/.297/.401 in 478 plate appearances. Between Jacobs, Buck, and Olivo, the Royals had 1,096 plate appearances of sub-.300 OBP.
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