God I hope this doesn't mean Buck gets the job.

I'd take Barajas or Kendall.

If we are looking stop gaps, I'll take Brian Schneider over Kendall or Barajas (but I wouldn't be upset with any of them). He'd be cheaper, he's better defensively, and his bat is comparable to Barajas (less power, better OBP).

I don't think Buck will get the job, otherwise he's have had the job last year and he was finally benched after what, 5 years? I think it will either be a platoon between him and Pena, or he'll be removed from the team in some form.

Good ridance to Yabuta.

As often mentioned by others, I'm thinking Crisp will be offered a million dollar deal that could climb to 3 mil and probably options. I would think he'll be back in Royal blue if his shoulders seem sound.

I don't think any of these moves were really surprising. I think KC may still offer Olivo arbitration because he's a type B free agent and would bring back a supp pick if another team signed him. I doubt he'd take the arbitration since he's been said to want a multi-year deal. I think he'll get a multi-year deal from another team as well because someone will be fooled into thinking his 20+ HR power makes him valuable as a catcher.

I hope not. They turned down Olivo at 3.3 it would seem unlikley they would try to re-sign Buck after they gave him 2.9 to mostly sit last year.

B. Pena and a free agent or trade for a catcher. Lets just say it won't be from AAA.

The Royals have to be in the market for an outfielder too.

I don't know how this works but you may. Can they even offer arbitration to a guy they had an option with & declined it?

I believe so. Isn't that what they did with Grudz last year? I believe they declined his option because he was hurt and then offered him arbitration (which he declined.) They didn't get a pick out of Grudz but that was because no one was really interested in him with his knees and his age. Olivo is a different story. If they went this route with him they will get a pick(if he doesn't accept of course.) I don't think he'll accept though just because, like I said previously, I believe some team will he'd be an asset for them.

i am not expecting Coco back.

I think we should be looking more for one more starter, like Pinero or Bedard; a good set-up like Brandon Lyon before we look at outfielders. And of course, a Catcher and a DH. Quite a few holes to fix.

I think we can live with DeJesus, Mitch/Anderson, and Gullien. It's not an all star OF, but it won't be the worst.

As always, I would hope Kila could have the job in DH. Someone like Barajas (Who I would like better than Schnider or Kendall or Olivo) Catching. One of those I named above in the pen and rotation.

But thats a lot to ask for...3 major FA signings.
The money would be there though, without Coco, Jacobs, and Olivo.

Now, if it were my choice, and I would select one obviously reasonable Free agent to sign this year, it would be Nick Johnson, to DH. But I doubt the team will spend the money on him.

You may be right, I don't know. I don't remember if there was an option on Grudz last year, I know they offered him arbitration.

I guess I don't remember a team declining an option then offering arbitration before but it may have happened, like you said that could have been the case with Grudz.

The heck of it is the way things go he may get more then the 3.3 if it goes to arbitration.

The Rs didn't have a 2009 option on Grudz. He was a FA.

But I don't know the answer to the question of whether the Rs can offer him arbitration and get FA compensation. I don't think so, but I'm not sure.

Edit: "him" = Olivo, not Grudz.

Sayonara Yabuta!

You can throw Vance Wilson in the mix as a backup catcher,he had a very good year at the plate for the Naturals but didn't catch many games rehabing his shoulder.I think he could catch enough games to be a backup and he would be cheap.

Fuzzy, we just got a little bit closer to Pena / Pina behind the plate.

I wouldnt be surprised to see Guille traded if they can find a partner, and also jacobs!! Jacobs has to make some MAJOR adjustments at the plate next yr in order to make a difference. In other words be willing to shorten his swing with two strikes and be willing to go the other way.

Jacobs is almost a guaranteed to not be tendered a contract… no team will trade for him knowing they can have him in December. I would explore the trade market for Guillen as well, even if it meant eating $10 million, you still would save $2.

There are likely to be a bunch of players all around baseball that will be non-tendered… we may be able to sign a catcher like Dioner Navarro for much less money then it will cost for Buck.

Torrealba is now a free agent, I'd like to see us pick him up to start ahead of Pena.

You guys should be happy about Olivo's option getting declined.

There is no need to sign a setup man as someone stated above. I think we have a top notch setup guy in Juan Cruz. He was hurt all last year and it showed. I'm anticipating a major bounce back.

As for a catcher, I'd love to see us pick up Torealba from Colorado. His option was just declined. Maybe 1 yr with an option, just in case Pina isn't ready to go for 2011. Schneider would be ok too. His OPS is 6-something, but he throws out an alarming amount of runners.

And as always, if we can get a Gatorade dispenser or even a Pez dispenser from someone for Hosey Guillen, I say take it if it means even saving a mil or so.

I'd love Torrabela over any FA catcher. Then Barajas. Not sure I'd like Schnider too much.

As for Cruz, I don't think he can be too successful in the AL. It's totally different then the NL West.

In 2005, he also pitched for Oakland. After having a Career year in 2004 with Atlanta (just like he did in 2008 with Arizona). In Oakland he went 0-3 with a 7.XX ERA. The following year he had a solid year with Arizona, which improved over time.

In my opinion, he's the perfect example of an NL-only pitcher.

I think we should have him in our 'pen next year, but we should not put the 8th inning job (which killed our team more than anything else this year) in a pitcher who is recovering from an injury, and who has not proved he can pitch in the AL.

Frankly, I'm ecstatic. Yabuta as well. KC can ill afford to carry pitchers who can't pitch and catchers who can't catch. Olivo is horrible with a glove on. Now, a second baseman for Christmas. A third baseman who's going to show up on both offense and defense would be nice, too.