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Royals Designate Kila Ka’aihue For Assignment

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | September 21, 2011 at 2:15pm CDT

It wasn't long ago that Kila Ka'aihue seemed like a promising piece of the Royals' future. But the Hawaiian first baseman doesn't appear to fit into their long-term plans any more, despite the career minor league on-base percentage of .390 that has endeared him to the statistically minded. Kansas City designated the 27-year-old for assignment to create 40-man roster space for right-handed reliever Kelvin Herrera, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.

Ka'aihue has excelled in ten minor league seasons, posting a career line of .266/.390/.458 that includes a .272/.379/.433 line this year in his fourth stint at Triple-A. The 2002 draft pick has had some opportunities against Major League pitching, but has just a .216/.309/.375 line in 326 MLB plate appearances.

Though Ka'aihue has admittedly poor stats in the Major Leagues, he also appears to have been unlucky on balls in play (.242 BABIP). It won't be surprising if a small market team without a long-term answer at first base claims Ka'aihue or works out a trade for him (the Rays have an open 40-man spot; the Pirates don't).

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Kansas City Royals Transactions Kila Ka'aihue

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26 Comments

  1. leachim2

    14 years ago

    Somebdy will give him a chance.

    Reply
    • Bernaldo

      14 years ago

      You’re right, but they are acquiring a career AAA player.  Maybe some team gets lucky but most likely, they are getting a 1B who will put up good numbers in AAA and won’t be a factor in the big leagues.

      Reply
      • YanksFanSince78

        14 years ago

        Ppl said the same thing about Bautista, I’m sure. 

        Reply
  2. omavricko

    14 years ago

    Hopefully the mariners

    Reply
    • Rangersfan32 2

      14 years ago

      Giving up on Smoak?

      Reply
      • YanksFanSince78

        14 years ago

        He can always be a DH. Plain and simple, the M’s need power and OBP and KK might be able to give them both if he figures things out.

        Reply
  3. Peter

    14 years ago

    what about the brewers?  they will more than likely have an opening at firstbase next year

    Reply
    • rfffr

      14 years ago

      Gamel is probably better

      Reply
  4. Joseph Cecala

    14 years ago

    I didn’t think he was that old to be honest.

    Reply
    • pageian

      14 years ago

      Me either.

      Reply
  5. JST1331

    14 years ago

    Your telling me this guy started in the minors at the age of 17!

    Reply
  6. Wete

    14 years ago

    How about the A’s? They don’t seem to have any answers at 1b

    Reply
    • Lunchbox45

      14 years ago

      barton?

      Reply
      • D.j. Wilson

        14 years ago

        You’re joking right?????

        Reply
  7. NyMetsBoy31

    14 years ago

    Yeah Beane gets nocturnal emissions when it comes to high OBP, lets see if he picks up Kila.

    Reply
  8. Alldaybaseball

    14 years ago

    At best .240 25 hrs or so and .340 obp  not bad id take a chance.

    Reply
  9. D.j. Wilson

    14 years ago

    Kila is definitely a fit in Oakland

    Reply
  10. M_Harden

    14 years ago

    So many possible fits… A little surprised to see him DFA’d. Could be a gift for someone.

    Reply
    • otis26

      14 years ago

      The guy is a stiff. Period.

      Reply
  11. Braydon Gervais

    14 years ago

    I could see the Jays taking a look.

    Reply
  12. danistheguy

    14 years ago

    Orioles.

    Reply
  13. otis26

    14 years ago

    Hilarious that any of you think this guy is ‘worth a look’. Maybe if he plays for free or cleans the clubhouse after games. He has a slow bat and is completely baffled by ML pitching. He makes Mike Jacobs look like an All Star. Not a surprise he was DFA’d – good riddance.

    Reply
  14. Damon Bowman

    14 years ago

    Otis, how can you make a final determination on a hitter who’s done well in triple-A but never started more than two full weeks in the majors?  I can accept he might not be ready to take a starting job in KC considering Hosmer looks like the real deal.  But never starting more than 14 games in a row and racking up less than 300 ML ABs is way too small of a sample to call it a day on a guy.

    Reply
  15. Matt

    14 years ago

    How is no one going to make mention he is a perfect candidate for Andrew Friedman and co? This man better be in a damn Ray uniform in ST next year, regardless of if the Magic of Kotch walks away or resigns.

    Reply

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