5:22pm: Betancourt's base salary is for $2MM, and he could earn an additional $500K in incentives related to playing time, tweets Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star.
1:41pm: The Royals announced that they signed Yuniesky Betancourt to a one-year, Major League contract. The Royals' 40-man roster includes 39 players with the addition of Betancourt, who was traded to Milwaukee from Kansas City in last offseason's Zack Greinke trade.
“We have been looking for a utility infielder who could play short, third and second base and we feel Yuni is a great fit,” Royals GM Dayton Moore said in a statement. “He brings a right-handed bat with some power and is a guy we know fits in well in the clubhouse.”
Betancourt, 29, posted a .252/.271/.381 line as the Brewers' everyday shorstop in 2011. He posted a negative UZR/150 (-7.4) for the sixth time in as many seasons as a regular shortstop. The Royals clearly intend to use Betancourt at second base, where he has started nine MLB games and at third, where he has yet to play an inning in the Major Leagues. He'll back up Royals infielders Alcides Escobar, Johnny Giavotella and Mike Moustakas in 2012.
lol lmao rofl
bahahahaha
Heh.
Qúe
Well that’s unfortunate for the Royals fans.
You can have him…
Signed,
Brewers Fan
There is going to be a lot of pissed off Royals fans…
HAHAHAHAH! They pawned him off on us and even gave us $2mil to pay for him, and now they’re signing him again? What’s wrong with them? Needless to say, glad he’s off the market. Now it’s guaranteed that Melvin won’t bring him back to the Brewers. 😀
I’m pretty sure the signing of Alex Gonzalez meant the end for Betancourt’s tenure as a Brewer
The Crew still need a utility infielder as well. But as a Brewer fan, it’s “Yuni B back to KC, Yippe!” for me!
Technically that $2 million was from the Mariners. When the When the Royals traded for Betancourt, the Mariners also agreed to pay some of his salary, $1 million in 2010 and $2 million in 2011. So the Mariners really gave you money for him.
correction…that cash that paid for yuni to the brewers actually came from when we first acquired him from seattle.
but as a royals fan, i only like this deal if he PH’s late in games and plays NO MORE than twice a week.
Royals: Fine we’ll give you Yuni……
Brewers: Ok thanks!
Brewers: @#$% TAKE HIM BACK!
Royals: Ok 🙂
Could you be more specific? I know of two four-lettered words that could fit there.
Be creative, hehehehheheh
I know. it’s either poop or darn. I think…
utility player?? why tf would DMGM sign Yuni AGAIN???
C’mon guys, show some appreciation! They spared the rest of the league from this guy. What… honor!
Crap. Well, at least it’s only for one year. I hope they aren’t paying him much.
Crap. Well, at least it’s only for one year. I hope they aren’t paying him much.
Crap. $2 million plus incentives. They could have paid Irving Falu the MLB minimum salary to be just as good of a utilityman as Yuni, and it would have saved them over $1.5M.
…..and the joke continues.
Someday, somehow…the Royals will gain some respect back, but moves like this…sooo…moronic just absolutely stun me.
As a Royals fan, I feel absolutely kicked in the gut right now. *shakes head* enjoy actual QUALITY signings, other teams fans. Just know the Royals are here to pick up the dregs. Yuni effing Betancourt. Really Dayton? Wow..just..wow.
There is absolutely nothing moronic about this move. Get past the name “Yuniesky Betancourt” and the move makes some sense… the Royals have a utility infielder who can hit for some power. A lot of teams would love to have that.
define “power”
He said “some power”, and I’d say that 29 HR over the last two years is “some power”.
True, but he is in no way a utility player. He does nothing well other than his decent power. He can’t play shortstop, let alone other positions. There is no reason for him to be on a major league roster. Period.
You won’t get a disagreement out of me. I was merely stating the obvious – that he does have oen legitimate tool.
yeah, I don’t think hes really a power threat.. now that hes a role player and all.
Hes been the same player hes always been, that recent power surge came at the price of a .270 OBP.. Not sure how thats gonna translate with him getting fringe playing time. The Dodgers should of signed him, huh? Look at that power
He just adds nothing to a bench imo. Speed? No. Versatility? No. OBP? Heck no. I don’t get it. I can’t believe this guy continues to get a job.
If he could defend, it would be one thing.. but he can’t even do that.
A utility player with no utility. He can’t play SS worth a lick, never played 3B, very sparingly at 2B, and he is near worthless as a hitter. It doesn’t matter what name you attach to him, he is still awful. The fact that Royals fans are already aware of just how awful he is makes this signing even worse. Pretty much a big slap in the face.
A utility player with no utility. He can’t play SS worth a lick, never played 3B, very sparingly at 2B, and he is near worthless as a hitter. It doesn’t matter what name you attach to him, he is still awful. The fact that Royals fans are already aware of just how awful he is makes this signing even worse. Pretty much a big slap in the face.
I don’t understand the hysteria, he is signed to be the “utility infielder.” Essentially, play once or twice a week, at most, to give a guy a day off. He can hit a 3 run home run and if escobar goes down they can afford a week or two of him playing. People are so dramatic, teams would love to have him as there utility guy.
No. Just plain old no.
No, teams wouldn’t. Or he would have already signed, and for more than what he got, considering there are a multitude of teams looking for a utility infielder.
Right…that’s why SO many teams were knocking down his door to get him onto their benches.
The Royals would have been better served to simply let Irving Falu or Lance Zawadzki come up from AAA to be a utilityman for the MLB minimum salary than to pay one of the worst overall players in Major League baseball $2 million plus incentives.
The signing is terrible, but hey at least u guys didin’t resign Gil Meche! Don’t worry, u guys will make some noise this yr, fall out race couple weeks after all star break and next off season, will make a couple quality signings to fill wholes on ur team(probably bullpen, 3 or 4 starter) and really make a push in a week a.l. central. The Royals system is sick!
That is a terrible signing, but at least it wasn’t Gil Meche! U guys are real close, you’ll make some noise this yr, fall outta race couple weeks after all star break and then next offseason, u guys will make a few quality signings to fill a few holes on ur team (probably bullpen, 3or 4 starter)and then next yr really make a push in a weak a.l.central. The royals system is sick!
I view the Meche signing as one of Moore’s best. He pitched like a #2 until Chainsaw Hillman made his arm fall off.
…..and the joke continues.
Someday, somehow…the Royals will gain some respect back, but moves like this…sooo…moronic just absolutely stun me.
As a Royals fan, I feel absolutely kicked in the gut right now. *shakes head* enjoy actual QUALITY signings, other teams fans. Just know the Royals are here to pick up the dregs. Yuni effing Betancourt. Really Dayton? Wow..just..wow.
How does this guy keep getting a job every year? This guy gives me hope that someday I’ll play in the MLB.
How does this guy keep getting a job every year? This guy gives me hope that someday I’ll play in the MLB.
he probably is still way better at baseball than us normal people
I don’t know. I’m sure I have better range
Getz could have said. Colon or Navarro?
Colon isn’t ready and Navarro isn’t a Royal.
He could have been referrring the Rey Navarro who probably projects as best future option at 2B, but it’s a reach to think he’s MLB ready at this point.
Getz could have said. Colon or Navarro?
Dayton Moore: i wish i knew how to quit Yuni
Yuniesky Anonymous
call 1-800-OHNOWHY today!
Dayton Moore: i wish i knew how to quit Yuni
to celebrate and show solidarity, this thread shall now be about jokes
i.imgur.com/F0EfN.jpg
Moving from starting to backing up a player you were traded for last season has to sting.
taking one for the rest of the league. way to be royals!!
(as a jays fan i shouldnt talk, we have mathis)
Well I can at least think of 1 thing Mathis does well . . . .
well it depends who you talk to. the imperfections in catcher defense statistics allow mathis defenders to claim he has value. i dont know enough to claim either way, but he is substantially worse than betancourt at the plate (an accomplishment in its own right).
Apparently the Royals missed the good ol days of Yuni dropping an easy catch and all the other routine plays he turned into errors! I don’t get it… you finally got ride of him via trade and he comes back to the Royals like a boomerang!
As a ranger fan i wanted him knows how to hit and perform in the playoffs unlike that bum cj wilson.
As a Rangers fan, I wouldn’t even take him on my AAA squad. We need a utility player who can play good defense. This guy is not the answer. Besides. I think Matt Kata would be just fine as our utility guy and he’d probably be much better than Yuni.
I highly doubt kata can post an 826 ops in the playoffs, he’s a star when it counts which is more than i can say about hamilton
As a Rangers fan, I wouldn’t even take him on my AAA squad. We need a utility player who can play good defense. This guy is not the answer. Besides. I think Matt Kata would be just fine as our utility guy and he’d probably be much better than Yuni.
lol now wilson is a bum. stay classy.
As a ranger fan i wanted him knows how to hit and perform in the playoffs unlike that bum cj wilson.
Personally I would have thought that Renteria or Blanco would have been better fits for the ball club. Oh well…
What postives does Betancourt bring to the plate? He doesn’t walk, strikes out too much, can’t hit for average (over rated for sure, but still), and he’s a bad fielder. The only asset he brings is having some power for an middle infielder, but thats about it.
A lot of teams would love to have a utility infielder with a little power.
How does that apply to this signing?
Utility infielder who can’t field. Doesn’t sound like too many teams would want him.
Personally I would have thought that Renteria or Blanco would have been better fits for the ball club. Oh well…
What postives does Betancourt bring to the plate? He doesn’t walk, strikes out too much, can’t hit for average (over rated for sure, but still), and he’s a bad fielder. The only asset he brings is having some power for an middle infielder, but thats about it.
He’s a bench player. He can’t have a that bad of a negative impact.
True, but once a couple of people say he’s terrible, it becomes a snowball effect.
Clearly. Huge reaction for a guy that might pinch-hit a couple times a week.
There’s also a pretty good reason people say he’s terrible. I wouldn’t necessarily say people are jumping on a band-wagon of Yuni hate.
Im with Cards here though. I don’t mind this to be honest. It’s not like he’s getting 450 PA. The dude’s gonna fill in once in a while to give the starters a break. Don’t get me wrong this guy sucks and I’d rather have the ghost of Chris Farley be my utility man, but it can’t be a disaster given the amount of time he’ll play
Dayton Moore: *thinking to self* I’m really missing a big piece of this team. Someone to mentor the younger players and teach them how to play at the major league level. *looks over list of available free agents* MOTHER OF GOD. I’VE FOUND HIM!
*1 Week later*
Dayton: Welcome back to Kansas City Yuni!
Yuni: Whatever.
Eh…that was a total swing and a miss
What, the joke or the signing?
Both
What, the joke or the signing?
Dayton Moore: *thinking to self* I’m really missing a big piece of this team. Someone to mentor the younger players and teach them how to play at the major league level. *looks over list of available free agents* MOTHER OF GOD. I’VE FOUND HIM!
*1 Week later*
Dayton: Welcome back to Kansas City Yuni!
Yuni: Whatever.
(void)
Why wouldn’t they pay Chris Getz less money to do a better job?
oh, we’re going to pay getz too. moore loves him ALMOST as much as yuni.
Rage…. Rage…… Rage………….
Cameron angry!! You no like Cameron angry! Cameron smash! Cameron smash!!
-Cameron “The Hulk” Nelson
Signed up for the MLBTR text when the post was first announced yesterday. Lo and behold, the FIRST text I receive is just now that the Royals have signed Yunesky. Sorry MLBTR, but I think I’ll just stick to your webpage content. Good idea though
this is far more important than the rangers winning the bid for darvish
Just curious, what was the time between it being posted on the site and you receiving the text?
Took 20mins to get to my phone.
Only because I wasn’t sure if Yuni was important enough to send a text out for……The text itself takes about 2 seconds to go out
It works just fine. I don’t know what they are complaining about. I got a text before I came on this site. And if I can’t get to this site, it’ll be nice to know when big things happen. I love this new feature.
Thank you. The complaints are somewhat warranted because ultimately a text should’ve been sent out last night when the Darvish announcement came out. Having said that, there was an unexpected problem that I learned a hard lesson from and I don’t expect it to happen again. Ultimately though, we wanted to do this as a free feature to provide an optional added benefit to people. Hopefully there won’t be any further hiccups, but I can’t make any promises. I’ll do my best though.
Didnt intend to stir up controversy. It is a valuable benefit and maybe I will have to give it a second thought about signing up again. Regardless, I appreciate you coming on and acknowledging the hiccup. This site is one of the best for a reason. Hope the problems are minimal for you guys going forward
I wasn’t complaining. I was merely informing people of how long it took to get to my phone.
This added feature is fine Andrew, it’s just depending on the Carrier, some viewers of MLBTR may also experience a delay from when you send the text. Having had AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and now Virgin Mobile, I’ve come to the extreme displeasure of knowledge that all carriers are NOT equal.
Thanks for the option just the same.
I didn’t reply to you…..
“I don’t know what THEY are complaining about.”
Ahhh yes. Because THEY can only be construed by someone other than themselves.
*wanker*
“They” may or may not mean you. I didn’t reply to you therefore assuming I was talking about you is just dumb.
And what did you call me, you pervert?
Just so that you know, that was on me and it won’t happen again. Trust me, as a Rangers fan I was expecting to enjoy my night after we landed Darvish and instead I was extremely frustrated because of what happened.
I can’t help but think this would be a better deal if Betancourt was good at baseball.
Dayton Moore:Yuni B::Batman:Robin
Now I know what it means.
Yuniesky:Defense::Trolls:Analogies
I wasn’t making a troll comment. I was making a ‘what the hell is this guy talking about’ comment.
So do you at least realize now that the post you replied to wasn’t simply random words?
Yes. But at the time, I didn’t get it. Now I do.
Yes. But at the time, I didn’t get it. Now I do.
I suspect I am just being dense and you actually know that that was an analogy form, but the grammar nazi in me feels compelled to mention it anyway.
(It reads: “Dayton Moore is to Yuni B as Batman is to Robin” for those who don’t know.)
Thank you. I have never heard of that before. It made no sense to me.
I suspect I am just being dense and you actually know that that was an analogy form, but the grammar nazi in me feels compelled to mention it anyway.
(It reads: “Dayton Moore is to Yuni B as Batman is to Robin” for those who don’t know.)
Now I know what it means.
Somewhere Rany just Sh** himself
This is the worst day in Royals history since when it was announced Sidney Ponson was starting the first game at the new K.
Somewhere, Ned Colletti is crying…
tearsof joy?
Nope. Lamenting over the fact that he doesn’t have the resources to sign another useless utility infielder.
tearsof joy?
I don’t know what everyone’s so upset about. Dayton knows what he likes: low OBP guys who play bad defense. If other GMs were smart, they’d package together their crappyist, least attractive players and offer them to Dayton for Hosmer or Moustakas. DM’s dream = an entire team of sub-.300 OBP guys who play horrible defense.
What’s really sad is that Moore’s poor Major League roster management will probably serve to undercut the wave of young talent the Royals have.
what – Ángel Berroa wasn’t available?
hell’s Angel
can’t the LEMONADE-LEMONADE-LEMONADE-LEMONADE-LEMONAAAADE!!! WOOOOOO guy play util?
Is it just me or did this make no sense?
…
It’s just you. Royals fans get it.
So if Royals fans are the only ones who get it, how is just me?
Technically you are correct, but no one cares. Go back to detroit 🙂
Is it just me or did this make no sense?
The Royals fired that guy years ago, because he was gaining more fame than the players on the field. Last I heard, he was selling his sweet lemon nectar at CommunityAmerica Ballpark for the T-Bones.
He made it in a MLB video game one year, can’t remember which one though.
he didn’t get fired by the Royals. I know hime and his 3 brothers well and your post is a blatant lie
They’d have to re-sign him too…..he hasn’t worked for the Royals in years.
can’t the LEMONADE-LEMONADE-LEMONADE-LEMONADE-LEMONAAAADE!!! WOOOOOO guy play util?
Wow. There is almost no chance that the Royals farm system, or the waiver wire has no player on it that is superior to Yuni in every aspect of the game other than occasional power, and would play for league minimum or very close to it. This is an embarassing move.
Why rush your top prospect? It’s Yuni. He wasn’t signed to be the starting short stop. He’s going to sit on the bench to give Escobar a rest every once in a while. Why is everyone so upset about this?
Because he is not good at hitting or at defense. If he costs more than league minimum it’s a big mistake. Even if he cost that little, there is probably a better player available for that role.
Like they say, there is no such thing as a bad one year deal. If he’s making more than $2.5MM, it’s a mistake. But I think it’s for something around $900k or $1MM.
On top of that, it’s a spot on the bench. Why would you take a prospect and have him sit on the bench instead of taking at bats and getting better? They probably aren’t contending this year. They probably won’t until 2013, when this contract is up. The deal makes perfect sense.
It’s a putrid deal at $900K. Sorry, it just is. There are lots of guys that are as useful or more useful available for league minimum. He’s that bad.
Edit: AHAHAAHAHA $2MM
It’s a putrid deal at $900K. Sorry, it just is. There are lots of guys that are as useful or more useful available for league minimum. He’s that bad.
Edit: AHAHAAHAHA $2MM
I’m a little upset that he’s not an everyday player in the AL West anymore. Although I’m not sure Seattle has significantly upgraded the position.
Why rush your top prospect? It’s Yuni. He wasn’t signed to be the starting short stop. He’s going to sit on the bench to give Escobar a rest every once in a while. Why is everyone so upset about this?
Wow. There is almost no chance that the Royals farm system, or the waiver wire has no player on it that is superior to Yuni in every aspect of the game other than occasional power, and would play for league minimum or very close to it. This is an embarassing move.
I literally laughed out loud…. Thank you Royals for that brief bit of humor. Royals fans, you have my condolences.
Are you sure that isn’t a typo? Shouldn’t it read “futility player?”
Are you sure that isn’t a typo? Shouldn’t it read “futility player?”
“We have been looking for a utility infielder who could play short, third and second base and we feel Yuni is a great fit,”
If you classify standing and let the ball bounce off your glove as a great fit, then yes, he’s your man.
This is a quick fix to the roster spot, for very little money so it’s said and done, and now Dayton can make a run at Oswalt. Yuni has his knocks, but he has sure hands and a good arm and a RH bat. He won’t play much, and can pinch run too. I don’t hate it. It is what it is.
I have a feeling somebody has never watched Yuny play. He does none of those things well. If you don’t hate the pick up, then how could I? He’s not playing on my favorite team anymore.
The Royals must have lost out to the Rockies on Casey Blake.
at the very least, i can wrap my mind around the royals signing betancourt to a minor league deal. but a major league deal? that hurts.
I was incredibly pissed when I first read the headline, but by the time I scrolled all the way down to the bottom, I’m not that upset. Yuni is horrible as a starting SS, but as a utility guy, he might have a chance to reinvigorate his career. He is not great defensively at shortstop because of his lack of range, but that won’t affect him much at 3rd or 2nd. If he was a cancer in the clubhouse, there is no way they would have brought him back, so he must not be a horrible teammate.
If Yuni plays <70 games, I like this move.
If Yuni plays 100+ games, I am going off the deep end.
I was trying my hardest to be indifferent to this signing since he’s going to be a utility guy, and I barely held it together. Now that I know he’s also getting paid $2-$2.5 mil to do it, I can’t stop laughing at how terrible of an idea this is.
if i could get paid $2.5 mill for being absolutely awful at my job, that would be sooo sweet
Damn, Royals were hoping for Nuno.
Years later we will all pontificate and hyper-analyze over just how could a team could have every piece available to win over ninety games, yet still constantly lose over ninety games. We will use outlandish wordings and phrases, yet no matter how out of control our metaphors are, no matter how ridiculous our hyperbole, nothing we say will ever truly capture the essence of Dayton Moore’s stunning ineptitude as a general manager.
How can he completely blow it time and time again…you do not sign the worst player in baseball to play for your team after you somehow managed to trade him. Yuniesky Betancourt simply does not deserve to be playing major league baseball and the fact that he’s making millions of dollars to make the Royals lose more games than they would if they instead had a replacement level player, is nothing but sheer mockerys of the game, America’s current economic climate and common sense.
Relax. It’s a useless signing, but it’s not like he gave him a two-year deal. That’s what Ned Colletti would have done.
Well, you know the Royals are making progress when a 1 year deal for the 25th man on their roster creates this much discussion.
no, hes the worst player in baseball who is making 2 million dollars more than he deserves, in fact make that 4 million more than he deserves
No. Brandon Inge is the worst player in baseball.
Honestly Yuni could sign for free and it would be a dubious signing. Giving him $2M is just terrible and it only gets worse if he has to play a lot.
He came in the Mike Aviles Trade.
Maybe they should have considered disincentives for playing time instead.
Just when I thought the Royals were turning it around and making some nice moves… GMDM goes and pays Yuni $2million to be a back-up?!? That’s too much ca$h no matter how much he plays. He must have a hot sister or cousin that comes into the clubhouse and improves the “team chemistry”… otherwise this is a large waste of a roster spot and $2million.
People defend this decision about as well as Yuni defends the middle of the diamond.
I sooooooooo called this!!! Welcome back, my favorite Royal
Maybe this is all part of a larger plan. Maybe the Royals acquired Jonathan Broxton last month solely for the purpose of trading him to Oakland for Gio Gonzalez, but the negotiations have stalled because the A’s also want a shortstop who can hit a home run once in a while but can’t field worth a darn.
I mean, that makes about as much sense as the Royals signing Betancourt in the first place.
What I feel is the potential travesty of a signing like Betencourt is that in the future Royals management will lose a valuable player over a difference of $2M. I’m less worried about teams paying for real value than I am blowing money they supposedly don’t have on players that could be replaced for league minimum.