2006 Season Preview: The Kansas City Royals

Regular Season Record: 56-106
Fifth in the AL Central: 43 games behind the Chicago White Sox
Home Park: Kauffman Stadium

Newly Ennobled:
RHP Scott Elarton – Signed as a free agent
RHP Mark Redman – Trade from Pittsburgh
RHP Joe Mays – Signed as a free agent
RHP Elmer Dessens – Signed as a free agent
C Paul Bako – Signed as a free agent
1B Doug Mientkiewicz – Signed as a free agent
2B Mark Grudzielanek – Signed as a free agent
3B Tony Graffanino – Claimed off waivers from the Red Sox
RF Reggie Sanders – Signed as a free agent

:
RHP Brian Anderson – Left as a free agent
RHP Jose Lima – Left as a free agent
1B/DH Ken Harvey – Left as a free agent
LF Terrence Long – Left as a free agent

The Skinny: The Royals were relatively active this off-season, trading for right-hander Mark Redman and signing first base glove wizard and spellchecker’s nightmare Doug Mientkiewicz, former Cardinals Reggie Sanders and Mark Grudzielanek, far traveled catcher Paul Bako and right-handers Scott Elarton, Joe Mays and Elmer Dessens. And most recently, they claimed Tony Graffanino off waivers. In other words, they acquired a bunch of solid, if unspectacular veterans. Only Sanders and Dessens were above average last season. So why did they spend more than 30 millions on these players? Obviously, the front office’s goal was to avoid a third season with 100+ losses. So will the Royals win 63 games in 2006? Probably, but all other teams in the AL Central seem to be improved, too, so even a 63-W-season is not a gimmie. Still, if you are loosing as many games as the Royals do, you better loose them being young instead of being old. The best thing the Royals can do this season is to forget about the 63 wins and deal away anybody at 28 years and older who can still hold a bat for prospects. This won’t happen, but at least Mike Sweeney, Reggie Sanders and Matt Stairs should be shipped off to contenders come July.

So are there any reasons to go to Kauffman Stadium this summer?

Sure, a lot of interesting road teams will come to visit the Royals and there are always the fountains behind the outfield wall. But seriously, the offense should be fun to watch at times and the bullpen should be able to hold some of the leads it will be given. Actually, reliever Andrew Sisco (3.11 ERA, 76 K in 75.1 IP) may be the most exciting player on the team. But the Royals’ biggest problem is starting pitching. “Ace” Scott Elarton went 11-9 with an 4.61 ERA last year, but that was with the Indians. This year, we will probably have to settle for single digits wins just like the rest of the rotation. Even if the front office can net a few decent prospects this summer, better times are still far away for the Royals. Despite finishing under .500 in ten of the last eleven years, the Royals farm isn’t exactly loaded. 3B Alex Gordon (22) and C/1B Justin Huber (21) are probably the best of the crop and Huber isn’t even homegrown.

Strengths:
- Middle Relief: Andrew Sisco, Mike MacDougal (3.33 ERA, 72 K in 70.1 IP) and Joel Peralta (3.89, 30 K in 34.2 IP) don’t constitute a top notch pen, but these guys would get a spot on most other teams.

Weaknesses:
- Starting pitching: 4.61, 4.90, 5.52, 5.65, 5.80. These are the ERAs of the five designated starters. Some teams have spot starters who could pitch in the upper part of the Royal’s rotation.
- Closer: Designated Closer Ambiorix Burgos was pretty good last year (3.98 ERA, 65 K in 63.1 IP), but he is still very young (21 years) and converted only 2 of 6 save opportunities last year.

Potential Lineup
C: Paul Phillips / John Buck / Paul Bako
1B: Doug Mientkiewicz
2B: Mark Grudzielanek
SS: Angel Berroa
3B: Mark Teahen / Tony Graffanino
LF: Reggie Sanders
CF: David DeJesus
RF: Matt Stairs

Rotation:
RHP Scott Elarton
LHP Mark Redman
RHP Runelvys Hernandez
RHP Joe Mays
RHP Zack Greinke

Closer:
RHP Ambiorix Burgos

Keys to ~~Success~~ win 70 games: For a change, staying healthy is not really a key for the Royals. An injury to an everyday player may actually open the door for someone to unexpectedly step up. Still, if the Royals want to win 70 games, they have to find a closer who can convert at least 75% of the save opportunities, the more the better. A starter or two with an ERA under 4.50 wouldn’t hurt, too. Prediction: If the Royals really win 70 games, the season might have to be considered a Pyrrhic victory, because it probably means they didn’t trade any of their veterans. But even if they don’t, I just cannot see them improve 14 games, not with that rotation. But all the “free spending” should be good enough to avoid 100 losses: 65-97, but still dead last in the AL Central.