Showing posts with label Ervin Santana Royals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ervin Santana Royals. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Royals Sign Guthrie, Make Other Roster Moves

The Royals have already made several moves this offseason, but recently the team has made some big decisions that will significantly shape next year’s roster. The biggest deal came yesterday, when the Royals resigned pitcher Jeremy Guthrie to a three year, $25 million deal.

Guthrie resurrected his career with the Royals last season after the club acquired him via a trade with the Colorado Rockies. After struggling a bit early on, Guthrie absolutely caught fire in the second half of the season and became one of the better pitchers in the American League. After joining the Royals, Guthrie posted a 5-3 record with a 3.16 ERA in 16 starts.

While many are concerned with Guthrie’s age (he is 33) and struggles in Colorado, the Royals resigned him for a decent price and showed its fan base that they are serious about contending for a playoff spot next season. Kansas City needed to upgrade its starting pitching, and with deals to Guthrie and Ervin Santana, as well as the return of Felipe Paulino and Danny Duffy from injury, the Royals suddenly have what appears to be a solid starting rotation. This rotation, paired with several key offensive players entering the prime of their career, should have Royals fans somewhat optimistic about next season.

Kansas City also was forced to remove several players from its 40 man roster, and a few have surprised Royals fans. Bryan Pena was let go after spending the last four seasons as the team’s backup catcher. The backup catching job now belongs to Brett Hayes, whom the Royals claimed off of waivers on November 2. Hayes is only 28 and is known to be a good defensive catcher who also calls a good game.

The Royals also designated pitchers Vin Mazzaro, Chris Volstad and Ryan Verdugo for assignment, as well as first baseman Clint Robinson and outfielder Derrick Robinson.

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Saturday, November 3, 2012

Royals Make More Roster Moves

The Royals were busy yesterday making several roster moves, most notably the additions of right-handed pitcher Guillermo Moscoso and catcher Brett Hayes. Moscoso was claimed off of waivers from Rockies, while Hayes was acquired from the marlins.

It is unknown if Moscoso has been acquired to be a starter, although many feel he may get a shot. Last season with Colorado, Moscoso earned a 3-2 record with a 6.12 ERA in 23 appearances, including three starts. Moscoso had a much better year in 2011, when he went 8-10 with a solid 3.38 ERA in 21 starts with Oakland. The Royals recently traded for Ervin Santana, and have talented pitchers like Danny Duffy and Felipe Paulino returning from injury (both Duffy and Paulino were reinstated off the disabled list and are back on the roster). Moscoso would likely have to have a strong spring to earn a rotation spot, and may be headed to the Royals’ bullpen.

Hayes has spent the majority of his career as a backup, although he has seen some significant time in the major league. He appeared in 39 games last year, hitting .202, and played in 64 games in 2011, when he posted a .231 batting average.

Kansas City lost Blake Wood, as the right-handed pitcher was claimed off waivers to the Cleveland Indians. The Royals also designated three players for assignment – pitchers Tommy Hottovy and Jeremy Jeffress, as well as outfielder Jason Bourgeois. Catcher Manny Pina was sent to Class AAA Omaha on outright assignment.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Royals Trade For Pitcher Ervin Santana

Just hours after announcing that the club had declined an option on closer Joakim Soria, the Royals announced another deal concerning a pitcher. Kansas City has made a trade with the Los Angeles Angels, acquiring right-handed pitcher Ervin Santana for minor league left-hander Brandon Sisk. The Royals also acquired $1 million in cash with the deal.

Santana has been a regular in the Angels’ rotation since 2005, going 96-80 with a 4.33 ERA. He has been extremely durable during this stretch, starting at least 23 games in eight consecutive seasons. The righty struggles last season, finishing with a 9-13 record with a 5.16 ERA while allowing a league-leading 39 home runs. Santana did pitch well in the final two months of the season, hopefully showing that he has put his struggles behind him and can pitch like he did earlier in his career.

Santana only has one year remaining on his contract, and it appears that the Royals have not discussed any long-term deals with him at this time. This might be a wait-and-see situation for Kansas City, mostly due to Santana’s inconsistency. The pitcher is a former all-star who once looked like one of the best in the game, yet really regressed in the early portion of the 2012 season.

Sisk spent last season in Triple-A Omaha, going 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA and also recording eight saves. The Angels didn’t have room for Santana in their starting rotation, and it is believed that Sisk may be an addition to their struggling bullpen.

It is hard to gauge this trade for the Royals. While the team does need some starting pitching, the acquisition of Jonathan Sanchez – who was downright horrible last season – is still on many Royals fans’ minds. However, the club has shown a knack for helping struggling pitchers find a second life in Kansas City, and Santana did pitch well at the end of last season. The Royals new acquisition has one year left on his contract to prove that he still has the stuff that once made him one of the better starters in the majors.

Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

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