Here’s the latest from the Royals and Rockies:
- The Royals should consider trading elite closer Greg Holland, opines C.J. Nitkowski of FOXSports (Rob Neyer agrees via Twitter). Holland is club controlled for two more seasons with rapidly increasing arbitration costs. Kansas City has other internal options like similarly elite reliever Wade Davis. Kelvin Herrera and Brandon Finnegan can help bridge the late innings in the event of a Holland departure. The club could also explore re-signing Luke Hochevar. Holland’s trade value can only go down, and dealing him could return good talent while opening payroll for other moves.
- Also writing for FOXSports, FanGraphs’ Jeff Sullivan notes that the Royals have received a playoff windfall and could increase spending. Economist Vince Gennaro once estimated the value of a playoff appearance at $25MM to $70MM over five years. Those figures have probably increased with time. Whether the Royals reinvest their bounty remains to be seen.
- Although the Rockies declined their $12MM option for pitcher Brett Anderson, they are interested in re-signing him, writes Thomas Harding of MLB.com. GM Jeff Bridich said it was too early in Anderson’s rehab process to commit $12MM, but that “we’re leaving the door open to Brett, depending on his health.”
- The Rockies have several options on the free agent market to replace Anderson, reports Nick Groke of the Denver Post. Assuming the club reinvests the money saved from Anderson’s option, they could pursue any number of pitchers. Groke lists Brandon McCarthy, Ervin Santana, Francisco Liriano, and Justin Masterson as his favorite targets.
Why would they move Holland and break up the best bullpen in baseball? Holland certainly has more value in KC than he would for another team so I doubt they could expect a return suitable for what he’s brings to their team. KC doesn’t have a huge budget and Holland is under control for two more seasons. That bullpen is what got them to the World Series. They don’t have a great offense but their SP know that any lead they can maintain thru 6 is a guarenteed W. Unless they are offered a couple of elite prospects capable of adding some offense right away it would be silly of them to break what ain’t broke.
They’d consider moving Holland because the back 3 of the “best bullpen in baseball” is going to get expensive (relative to KC’s payroll). Davis has a $7 M team option next year (which the Royals will probably exercise – or risk losing him). Holland is about to hit his 2nd arbitration – and will see his pay rise about 50% (at least) to over $7 M. And Herrera will enter his first year of arbitration, and probably see his salary for next season at about $3 M. You’re talking about $17 M for 3 bullpen guys – and it will only get more expensive in 2016 (Davis’ option goes to $8 M, Holland would probably bump to at least $10 M, and Herrera would rise to about $5 M – a $23 M back end).
I cringe when I think about breaking up the bullpen, even though history says its probably the smartest thing to do. Relievers are, by nature, unreliable year to year except for the most special ones. But even Hochevar…he made 5 or 6 this year, didn’t he? It wasn’t a huge issue payroll-wise this year to have so much in the pen but now that the offensive side is going to get deeper into arbitration themselves…well something has to give. The first domino is Billy Butler and I’m guessing there will be at least one more notable departure (other than Shields, of course and Aoki)
The Royals will likely do what they think they need to do to boost the win total into the 90’s and avoid the wild card game. The easiest thing to do is to deal Holland. He’s great… But some of his value is attached to saving 3 run games. He could be dealt for talent. As much as Moose contributed in the postseason…he’s also less than a sure thing.
Not sure what you’re getting for Moose though. Besides the postseason hr’s he had an abysmal season
Yep. I don’t think they deal him…just roll the dice. Hosmer also has to look more Joey Votto than James Loney.
Yeah but I’d rather have Hosmer than Votto’s contract. I just happened to look at it today. 251 left through 2023! Yikes
No doubt…but just speaking in talent terms. When Hosmer arrived I thought maybe we’d see a .320/25/90/15 batter.
Yeah me too. His swing is just too long in my opinion. When he’s really seeing the ball like he was in the playoffs and he gets hot…look out. But over the course of the year, that’s always the thing that I come back to with him. When the magic is there he hits it to left field too. I don’t know. Maybe he found it. I sure wish we would have won the series then it’s gravy lol.
It does look long. I think some of the recent Royal converts saw the Royals on a hot streak and are buying in. I really hope it does change something… Consistency would be awesome….past several seasons they’ve had these streaks in them. Just think what a productive Hosmer/Butler/Moose combo would have done….that’s probably a mid 90_win team. Should have won the central anyway…don’t get me started on Yost. I’m not the GM…I’d probably be on the horn with Ron Gardenhire right now.
This is true. It’s a real ugly swing vulnerable to all sorts of different pitches. I doubt he’s going to get any better than he is.
The Royals had better hope Hosmer can put up better than a .270 10-15 HR season
I’m hoping that this playoff run has broken open some intangible confidence barrier with both Hosmer and Moose.
Moose could be Troy Glaus. .260/30HR…high end
Yeah dude your right. I was just thinking team control and not paying attention to how much he would get in arbitration. I wonder what they would have to pay him for an extension and buy out the next couple of arbitration eligible seasons. Too bad for them I loved watching the Herrera -Davis – Holland trio shutting down games during he playoffs. I assume with Finnegan joining the mix Davis could close . Maybe they can get nice return for Holland. I’m just wondering what kind of offers would they get. He’s going to be expensive. Injuries are always an unfortunate possibility and teams haven’t been jumping to sign or extend closers for 8 figures
Holland for Verlander (Detroit pays his salary down to $15MM/year). Ponder and tell me that would not be intriguing.
I wouldn’t want to pay Verlander 15 and I wouldn’t want to face Holland in the division.
Because a small market team can’t afford to keep him around forever. For them the smartest move may be to sell him for prospects that will extend their win window.
I can imagine that this playoff run just bought them another $15M or so in payroll for a few seasons. Not that you plunk that down on a closer.
They don’t have to trade him, but I think they should definitely feel out the market. Many teams will way overpay for closers.
Holland would have more value to another team than he does to the Royals. They’re in a solid trade position. Really on either he or Wade Davis. They could also hold them another year.
Nowhere near that much. About $1m per home playoff game, one time only.
Maybe…but I think there’s an increase outside the direct impact of the playoff games played themselves..it means more season ticket sales…merchandise…etc. Whatever the figure..it does potentially help them increase payroll
No one else finds it funny the Denver writer wants fly ball pitcher Brandon McCarthy to come to the Rockies?