KC Royals - post Hillman

[SubGod22]

Royals executing their plan this offseason

"We wanted to get a right-handed bat that could play defense and we ended up getting a right-handed bat [Jeff Francoeur] and a switch-hitter [Melky Cabrera] who can play defense," he said.

Those additions came this week with free-agent signings.

"There's a starting pitcher with Vin Mazzaro who we control for five years and has a terrific arm and a terrific upside and can be a No. 3 starter," Moore said.

That came about on Nov. 10, when the Royals obtained Mazzaro from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for right fielder David DeJesus.

"We've been able to execute the plan thus far for our offseason," Moore said. "We needed to improve our outfield and we did that. Yes, we needed to add a starting pitcher, and we're going to give [Everett] Teaford and [Danny] Duffy and [Aaron] Crow an opportunity for a spot in the rotation as well."

Prospective starting pitcher Kevin Pucetas came from San Francisco to complete the deal for Jose Guillen -- and another starter, Nate Adcock, was selected in the Rule 5 Draft.

No moves were made on catchers. Although regular Jason Kendall is not expected to be ready by Opening Day, Moore plans to start the season with Brayan Pena and Lucas May behind the plate.

"Nothing we've done is going to cloud the picture with [third baseman] Mike Moustakas when he's ready to come to the big leagues, and we hope to have Mike on the team at some point in time next year," Moore added.

[SubGod22]

Kansas City gives Francoeur grand introduction

[RoyalShock]

Now that Cliff Lee has signed let the bidding for Zack Greinke begin!

[SubGod22]

With new responsibility, May set to go to work

[SubGod22]

Moustakas heads Minor League award winners

Moustakas, who hit a combined .322 for Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, will receive the George Brett Hitter of the Year award. Moustakas also banged 36 home runs, tying for the lead in all of the Minor Leagues.

Getz gets full clearance months after concussion

Melky warm to idea of playing in chilly KC

He'll join another newcomer, right fielder Jeff Francoeur, and left fielder Alex Gordon in an outfield that should give opposing runners pause before trying to stretch singles into doubles or doubles into triples.

Cabrera has had 46 outfield assists in his career, including 16 for the Yankees in 2007. Francoeur has had 81 in his career, also covering six years. Gordon, playing outfield for the first time last season, notched two assists in 58 games and has a strong arm from his third-base days.

A switch-hitter, Cabrera batted eighth most often last season with the Braves, but prefers the middle of the lineup, and that's where manager Ned Yost has indicated he'll be -- every day. The chance to be an everyday player was a big reason for his signing with the Royals.

[SB Shock]

Moustakas heads Minor League award winners

Moustakas, who hit a combined .322 for Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, will receive the George Brett Hitter of the Year award. Moustakas also banged 36 home runs, tying for the lead in all of the Minor Leagues.

Getz gets full clearance months after concussion

Melky warm to idea of playing in chilly KC

He'll join another newcomer, right fielder Jeff Francoeur, and left fielder Alex Gordon in an outfield that should give opposing runners pause before trying to stretch singles into doubles or doubles into triples.

Cabrera has had 46 outfield assists in his career, including 16 for the Yankees in 2007. Francoeur has had 81 in his career, also covering six years. Gordon, playing outfield for the first time last season, notched two assists in 58 games and has a strong arm from his third-base days.

A switch-hitter, Cabrera batted eighth most often last season with the Braves, but prefers the middle of the lineup, and that's where manager Ned Yost has indicated he'll be -- every day. The chance to be an everyday player was a big reason for his signing with the Royals.

I noticed Moustakas is not on the 40 man roster. What is holding Moustakas back from being given a legitimate shot out of spring training?

[SubGod22]

Moustakas heads Minor League award winners

Moustakas, who hit a combined .322 for Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, will receive the George Brett Hitter of the Year award. Moustakas also banged 36 home runs, tying for the lead in all of the Minor Leagues.

Getz gets full clearance months after concussion

Melky warm to idea of playing in chilly KC

He'll join another newcomer, right fielder Jeff Francoeur, and left fielder Alex Gordon in an outfield that should give opposing runners pause before trying to stretch singles into doubles or doubles into triples.

Cabrera has had 46 outfield assists in his career, including 16 for the Yankees in 2007. Francoeur has had 81 in his career, also covering six years. Gordon, playing outfield for the first time last season, notched two assists in 58 games and has a strong arm from his third-base days.

A switch-hitter, Cabrera batted eighth most often last season with the Braves, but prefers the middle of the lineup, and that's where manager Ned Yost has indicated he'll be -- every day. The chance to be an everyday player was a big reason for his signing with the Royals.

I noticed Moustakas is not on the 40 man roster. What is holding Moustakas back from being given a legitimate shot out of spring training?

I think he'll get a shot, but I doubt we see him before June. I'd say they've kept him off of the 40 man so they can protect a few who were vulnerable to the Rule 5 as he still has time where he's untouchable. If he tears up ST then it'd be hard not to let him start. Otherwise, they'll put him in Omaha so they can get an extra year out of him before arbitration.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

Grienke to the brewers expected Monday

[BenWSU]

From one losing team to another. Good move Zach & new agent. 8)

[SB Shock]

From one losing team to another. Good move Zach & new agent. 8)

LOL.

Any hint what KC is going to get for him?

[BenWSU]

#Royals trade Greinke, Betancourt and cash to Brewers for SS Alcides Escobar, OF Lorenzo Cain, RHP Jeremy Jeffress and RHP Jake Odorizzi

[SB Shock]

#Royals trade Greinke, Betancourt and cash to Brewers for SS Alcides Escobar, OF Lorenzo Cain, RHP Jeremy Jeffress and RHP Jake Odorizzi

Escobar has decent potential as SS.

Cain -- doesn't do anything for me in what is becoming a crowded outfield situation.

Jeffress has some pretty good potential. Former #1 and average 10.6 K/9 in minors.

Odorizzi another #1 and good prospect but is several years away away.

Overall, seems like a decent deal for a player who didn't want to be with KC and who value may be at his highest.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

#Royals trade Greinke, Betancourt and cash to Brewers for SS Alcides Escobar, OF Lorenzo Cain, RHP Jeremy Jeffress and RHP Jake Odorizzi

Escobar has decent potential as SS.

Cain -- doesn't do anything for me in what is becoming a crowded outfield situation.

Jeffress has some pretty good potential. Former #1 and average 10.6 K/9 in minors.

Odorizzi another #1 and good prospect but is several years away away.

Overall, seems like a decent deal for a player who didn't want to be with KC and who value may be at his highest.

Escobar and Cain are two plus defenders who cant hit.

Jeffress would rather get high than throw heat.

Odorizzi is a solid pickup.

Overall its an above average to a steal of a haul for Betancourt.

But Zack Greinke was involved in the deal.

[RoyalShock]

Like SB said, Escobar projects well. Remember, this is a SS we're talking about. He's there for defense and his numbers will be fine once he's surrounded by Moustakas, Hosmer and co.

Cain hit .306 in his first season in the majors. Not bad for CF. It was only in 148 ABs but with a few more walks could make a great leadoff hitter.

Jeffries is as likely to get a lifetime ban as he is to pitch two full seasons in the majors, it seems. Not pleased with this one.

Can't tell much about a guy who hasn't pitched above high A ball. Time will tell.

Overall, I can't be too unhappy about this trade, though I hoped some teams would be dumb enough to trade the farm. I feel like Greinke's 2009 season was almost as much an outlier as his 2005 season. His K/9 in 2009 was much better than any other season. I think if you eliminate 2005 and 2009 from his stats, that's probably who Greinke really is. And that's still a damn good pitcher with roughly a 3.75 ERA, but probably not a Cy Young contender every year.

[SubGod22]

Greinke gone, but Royals set for future success

Because the Brewers now boast one of the best rotations in baseball, the move makes them an immediate playoff contender in 2011. But because of how their new acquisitions fit with their impressive cast of young players, the Royals are setting themselves up to eventually be a force for years to come -- perhaps as early as 2012.

"We're very comfortable with this deal," Moore said at Kauffman Stadium shortly after the announcement. "It fits with what we are doing and who we are as these talented players blend in with the talented group that we have coming."

Although all of them are under 25 and talented, many will opine that none of the four players the Royals got for a sure-fire ace are can't-miss stars. But Odorizzi sure has the makings of one. And this was a good package considering Greinke's partial no-trade clause and the uneasiness from some big-market clubs.

Mentions of Greinke's bouts with social anxiety disorder may have been overblown, and were perhaps reported irresponsibly. But it was significant enough that, according to the Newark Star-Ledger, a big-market club like the Yankees was hesitant about Greinke despite a need for starting pitching. There was also the control Greinke had with his no-trade clause, which he had already used this offseason to block a deal to the Nationals.

Analyzing prospects in Greinke trade

Butler moving on from Greinke trade