Comments on: Royals re-sign Jeremy Guthrie to three-year, $25 million deal

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 21:20:16 +0000

Rare example of a guy who seems to thrive in the AL over the NL. Rare breed, indeed. An innings eater with those AL numbers is worth that contract. He surely would have gotten as much, if not more, elsewhere.

More importantly, two other pieces of good news from this: The Royals will pay people, and people with options will actually choose to stay with the Royals.

By: pdowdy83

pdowdy83 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 20:15:09 +0000

Kyle Lohse is doing a happy dance right now. He was already going to clean up but if Guthrie got that contract he is sure to be ale to get 4 or 5 years and a lot more money…

By: groundruledoublebourbon

groundruledoublebourbon — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:46:26 +0000

Sure hope so. Really sick of seeing his 91 mph “sinker” sink into the outfield bleachers.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:39:49 +0000

They could get RA Dickey for that kind of dough. RA in Kaufman would flirt with a no hitter every time his turn comes up.

By: Paul White

Paul White — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:25:10 +0000

The Royals don’t have limited money, at least not so limited that they can’t afford Guthrie. Rany Jazayerli has covered this extensively, and he’s right. Even with Santana’s salary and now Guthrie’s, the Royals are at about $76 million in 2013 salary, well below the $80-$85 million Rany projects them to be able to afford. And that gets better if they cut Hochevar and/or Chris Volstad and save another $5-$7 million. In fact, if they do, they’ll be at roughly $69 million for 2013, giving then $11-$16 million to spend on yet another pitcher. That would be a pretty passable pitcher, someone in the Santana (pre-2012) mold, giving them a payroll they can afford and a rotation of:

Santana
Free Agent Pitcher X
Guthrie
Mendoza
Chen

With Odorrizi, Duffy and Paulino available when they are ready and/or healthy. That’s a playable rotation in the AL Central. And given that their offense is likely to improve greatly with the health of Lorenzo Cain and Salvador Perez, the replacement of Francoeur with Wil Myers, and even a minor bounce back year from Eric Hosmer, suddenly that makes them a reasonable “contender”. That’s in quotes because this is the AL Central, where anyone who threatens .500 can win the division. Signing Guthrie helps set them up to do that. Now they need to take those last couple of steps…..Cut Hochevar and Volstad, and throw $10-$15 million at whatever decent starter will take their money.

By: mattyflex

mattyflex — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:51:55 +0000

Not to mention Danny Duffy and Felipe Paulino as they return from TJ surgeries…..

By: mattyflex

mattyflex — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:50:41 +0000

You’re forgetting about Luis Mendoza…….

By: thebadguyswon

thebadguyswon — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:31:58 +0000

Jesus…..you have limited money you’re willing spend and this is how you do it?

Huge overpay.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:20:27 +0000

I had a bit of a debate with someone about park effects and how Kauffman actually makes some pitchers better. Guys that give up a lot of fly balls in particular. Ervin Santana was the pitcher we back and forthed with. Guthrie is another guy who will pitch half his games in Kaufman. He’s a good pitcher in that park. He has a strong defending out field behind him. I do believe the Royals are going to be next season’s Orioles. They are a lot better than they appear to be and have great pitcher’s park to play in. If they can improve their hitting, they stand to make a killing at home.

By: kcrobert10

kcrobert10 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:08:08 +0000

I’m not a fan of this deal much rather have shawn Marcum for a little more cash. They won’t and can’t cut cool hand Luke cause they need him. Even if the trade for hellickson or Moore you still need hochavear. Rotation right now is santana, guthrie, hochavear, Chen, oderizzi or smith. If you get the trade for a pitcher then you bump Chen, oderizzi, or smith. Still need those guys there will be injuries afterall.

By: Tyree Studio

Tyree Studio — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:02:03 +0000

David Glass opened his wallet? Wow. Somebody get the devil a jacket and gloves…

By: sportsdrenched

sportsdrenched — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:58:29 +0000

That’s pretty much how I feel about this. But will they cut ties with Hochevar?

By: edelmanfanclub

edelmanfanclub — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:23:50 +0000

If elite pitchers make 24 million annually. This deal isn’t bad for an average to above average pitcher. It could be way way worse. He’ll eat up innings, and he looked alot better in KC than he did in COL

By: nategearhart

nategearhart — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:14:03 +0000

$11 MILLION in 2014?! Gross.

By: geoknows

geoknows — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:02:44 +0000

Meant to add also, that, as groundruledouble says below, in two months, this deal will look like a bargain.

By: geoknows

geoknows — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:01:55 +0000

Because the pitching market will play out that way. Absolutely he was going to get three years. Should he? No, probably not. That’s the way the game is now, though.

By: groundruledoublebourbon

groundruledoublebourbon — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:00:03 +0000

The market for pitching is about to run off the rails with the new distributions to all MLB teams. This deal will only look better in a month or two. Admittedly, two years from now, who knows how Guthrie’s performance will make it look.

The way the deal is structured has me giddy the Royals will cut ties with Hochevar (who would be due around $5M next year if tendered). In 2013, Guthrie’s deal is worth $5M. Improvement to the staff, no effect to overall projected payroll which leaves room to sign/trade for one more starter. Also, 2014 has the biggest allocation to Guthrie’s salary–fine, because Ervin Santana will undoubtedly be off the books by then.

By: ningenito78

ningenito78 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:55:35 +0000

He was going to get three years from somebody

Really? Why?

By: dcfan4life

dcfan4life — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:52:17 +0000

12 games nets him $25 million from a team with a limited payroll. Ignoring his career stats as a marginal pitcher, i think the Royals went out on a limb here. I hope it works out though, would hate to see one of the higher paid Royals stink up the joint. Wouldn’t be fair to their loyal, patient, and well deserving of competitive baseball fans.

By: geoknows

geoknows — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:51:43 +0000

He was going to get three years from somebody; I guess $25 million isn’t so awful. It’s a ton less than he was rumored to be asking. Maybe a bit of an overpay but not egregious. If he’s the pitcher he was in Baltimore, he’ll earn his keep.