Royals Notes
Given the rumors that the team was considering removing potentially-useful players in Ruben Gotay, Donnie Murphy, and Chip Ambres, the news that two pitchers who’re unlikely to have a future in Kansas City were the unfortunate souls came as a bit of a relief. It seems like a lifetime’s passed since multiple clubs thought the world of Snyder when he entered the draft in 1999 and was chosen seventh overall by the Royals, but it’s only been six years. However, his career has been derailed by nagging injuries since he blew away the pitching-friendly Carolina League in 2002, just one year after undergoing a ligament replacement operation in his pitching elbow. Now 28, Snyder’s star has fallen, his once-great stuff is just a skeleton of what it was, and he’s probably destined to a middling career in middle relief, if that.
Just 22, Lowery’s prospect status is higher than Snyder’s, but the early results haven’t indicated him as being a commodity the Royals don’t want to lose. He hasn’t shown much if any improvement as he’s moved up the organizational ranks, but his disastrous experience at Double-A Wichita probably shot down whatever confidence the organization had in him in the first place. Oh, and by disastrous, I do mean disastrous:
`
IP H SO BB ERA
8.1 21 5 14 24.84
I don’t know for sure what happened there, but a young pitcher who never had “hittability” problems in the past getting lit up for 23 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings is justifiable cause to have him undergo an MRI on that pitching arm.
The Royals are still pretty starved for pitching depth, so exposing two pitchers to waivers tells me Allard Baird really doesn’t believe either guy can help his club now or in the future. He made the right call in this instance; no team is going to claim Snyder or Lowery and place them on their 40-man roster, but a multitude of GMs would’ve gladly found room for Gotay, Murphy, or Ambres. If the Royals sign another veteran pitcher (as is the rumor), the next casualty is likely going to be Aaron Guiel.
Indeed. I know it doesn’t take much to make a lot of American dollars in the Japanese Leagues (D.J. Carrasco’s due to make nearly $3 million over the life of his new two-year deal), but there is no way Lima was/is receiving offers that total more than what a somewhat-reliable pitcher like Carrasco got. Of course, perhaps they’re offering him a lot of money to entertain the crowd with 450-foot homers, dancing, screaming, and an annual dose of Lima Time!.
To make matters more interesting, Lima’s agent, Joe Klein, says he’s spoken with the Minnesota Twins about his client. As we speak, the other four American League Central clubs are praying a deal will be struck.
I’m glad to have the stability Mark Grudzielanek brings to second base both offensively and defensively, but I’m definitely not ready to give up on Gotay yet. Sure, it’s now possible he’s a Four-A tweener, but I think he has the potential to become a Ray Durham-type player, minus the speed. The Royals definitely don’t see him the same way, but I’m very sure he’s a 23-year-old player who just needs more time, for the organization to be patient, and for his manager to believe in him.
If the Royals can’t find their long-term everyday second baseman with Gotay, German, and Murphy around, there may be less hope for a playoff-caliber club here than I think. Hey, it’s okay for one middle infielder to hit, right?
