The Royals are looking to add a power hitter, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The bat would slot into right field or the DH spot, depending on the health of Jose Guillen. Morosi names Jonny Gomes and Marcus Thames as two players of interest who could fit into Dayton Moore's limited budget.
Gomes, 29, was non-tendered by the Reds after hitting .267/.338/.541 in 314 plate appearances. 35% of those PAs came against left-handed pitching, keep in mind. Gomes would be best-served as a DH, as his limited defensive work in the outfield corners grades poorly. We haven't heard about much of a market for Gomes, aside from seemingly mild interest from the Reds and Yankees.
Thames, 33 in March, hit .252/.323/.453 in 294 plate appearances for the Tigers and was cut loose in November. He saw lefties even more often than Gomes. The main defensive difference between the two is Thames' 239.3 career innings at first base. The Indians and Blue Jays were named as interested parties in mid-December, though the Tribe may be out after signing Austin Kearns and Shelley Duncan.
Though not mentioned by Morosi, free agents Gary Sheffield and Jermaine Dye also fit the profile of right-handed bats with pop and limited defensive ability.
It’s rather surprising that Gomes isn’t gaining more interest from teams. He was a very postive clubhouse presence in Tampa Bay and probably could put up some decent numbers if he could get regular playing time. I think he would be a nice fit in KC.
I think the hitter’s park in Cinci helped him out last season. That and it being the National League he was playing in.
So they are looking to downgrade in position flexibility from Josh Fields? Both are lesser hitters in a LHP platoon than Fields is and neither can cover 3B to help with Gordon’s major weakness against lefties. Both are pretty crappy in the OF, Fields can do that. Thames has some experience at 1B, so does Fields.
Gomes might sacrifice position flexibility, but there’s no way he’s a worse option in a platoon than Fields, unless you still believe that Fields’ 2007 was anything more than a fluke.
Gomes hit .307/.369/.545 against LHP last season, and for his career he has a .274/.369/.517 line.
Fields hit .243/.346/.429 against LHP last season.
With the exception of 2008, Gomes has consistently punished LHP throughout his career, and he’s proven to be more capable against RHP as well.
Fields may be technically able to play third base, but he’s a butcher there anyway. Gomes is a far better player.
I think Gomes is probably the better of the 2, but it begs the question, since both these guys can’t play the OF well, do the Royals really expect to run Guillen out to RF all season? Maybe they are still looking to unload him and have an OF of DDJ, Pods and Anderson/Fields/Mitch?
I would love to see Guillen out there and healthy, but if he can’t run down routine balls, we should prob focus on someone that can take his place in the field and let him DH.
Only reason Gomes is not in a REDS uni today… is because they have a boatload of COF options (Nix, Balentien, Dickerson, Heisey, Frazier, Francisco and Dorn) all playing for the league min….And he was going to be due a HUGE raise via ARB (from $600K to well over $2.5M was expected)….Due to his exceptional yr at the plate. (20Hr / .541 SLG over 300+AB’s)
And JFYI…His D is not nearly as bad as it’s made out to be…but his clubhouse presence is everything it’s siad to be. GREAT TEAM MATE…GREAT w/ the fans…A true “lunch box & hard hat” …100% effort guy!
I REALLY wish the REDS had a spot for him. The Royals would do very well for themselves to get this guy to KC.
The Royals seem like they’re going to try to platoon half of their defensive positions to get the best matchup at the plate. This could be interesting, but I don’t see it as anything close to a recipe for success.
That being said, I have heard nothing but good things about Gomes personality, and his power is unquestioned.. but I watched a few Cubs-Reds games, where his defense in LF was nothing short but interesting to watch. One ball he completely misplayed and another he made a great catch on a ball that if he just would have taken a straight path to it, would have been routine. Small sample size, I know… but seeing that and hearing his defense is bad by lots of people must say something.
So the Royals are looking at Gomes and Thames, who would work best at DH and/or 1B…two positions that are pretty much well-covered by the Royals.
Sheffield is going to have to come out and say he will play for $1MM or else he’s done.
Gomes should not be allowed to bring a mitt to the ballpark. He is useful only as a DH, and even then, only as a platoon hitter.
If he can be signed for a couple million and paired with another platoon DH player, you could get a lot of value from the position for not very much.
I’m an everyday 35 yr Royals fan. I have supported almost every move made by the Royals, even some that haven’t worked out, though I understood why we made them. But I don’t like this. Here is why:
The Royals will carry 12 pitchers and 13 position players. If we add another player, we will lose either Josh Fields, Callaspo, or Bloomquist. Pena is the backup C and those 4 players makeup the current bench. Well actually Callaspo is the DH and Maier is the 4th bench guy.
The current lineup, which has Aviles starting the year in rehab.
CF SCOTT PODSEDNIK
2B CHRIS GETZ
LF DAVID DEJESUS
1B BILLY BUTLER
RF JOSE GUILLEN
DH ALBERTO CALLASPO
3B ALEX GORDON
C JASON KENDALL
SS YUNI BETANCOURT
If we sign a DH, and he makes the team, one of those guys has to be traded. Fields and Callaspo have the most trade value, with several teams needing 3B options. The Cardinals foremost among them. I tried to find out if Fields has any minor league options left, which would be best solution, but as many times as he’s bounced I don’t believe he does. If DDJ, Guillen or another regular are traded it would also make room, but weaken the team, as we probably get a prospect or pitching back in return.
Bloomquist has too much value with his speed, defense and flexibility. He’s the only one who can play SS as a backup. He is the RH platoon partner with Getz at 2B. He’s the primary pinch runner.
I just don’t see where a DH fits unless they are significantly better than one of those 3 guys.
So in my book, unless that player is Jermaine Dye or Carlos Delgado, we shouldn’t make the deal. Actually the sleeper candidate for me would be Joe Crede who can DH but also play some good defense when his back is not acting up.
Royals get the 2012 MLB All Star Game. Thats the best news yet.. I hope they end up with at least a winning season.. I love going to games at that ballpark but I have never, even, seen them win the 5 times I have been there.
Those games must not have been Greinke games. :)
No they were not.. But they were all Cardinal games and I was happy with all the outcomes but Im pulling for the Royals to put something together real soon.