Mr. B, Can I assume that Lugo's moving from 2 yrs/15mm total to 3 yrs/15mm Average Annual Value is a direct indicator as to how the Ohtani deal has impacted the market?
Also, any chance Lyles gets bumped to the 'pen and do these veteran signings indicate a bridge to the younger arms or an acknowledgement that there just ain't much to them?
Ohtani is such a unicorn, I’m having a difficult time seeing exactly how his contract would impact others. Especially guys like Lugo. What Lugo did last year was put together a solid string of starts, making him a viable option in the rotation for the first time in his career. His value was up, no matter how much Ohtani signed for.
I do see Lyles getting pushed to the pen in a mop-up/swingman kind of role, but they’ll need another arm via trade or free agency and they’ll need one or two of the younger arms to force the issue.
The good thing about Picollo is, he’s not going to wait around to see what these younger guys have. They moved on from Kowar and it sure seems that if the deal is right, they’re willing to move some of these other younger guys. Again, we’ll need to see it happen before I can fully buy in, but it feels like a promising start.
Good moves, and I think it’s past time for the Royals to take some risk on an overpay for someone with a good track record who’s likely to provide some value, instead of spending on on well below average inning eaters. Now let’s get one more quality starter, sign Witt to an extension, and make some trades to make the roster fit and get some young talent (especially pitching), and then I’ll feel good about the front office and owner for the first time in quite a while.
They’re on the right track, aren’t they? And on Lugo, it’s not even that large of an overpay. We’re not talking an Ian Kennedy deal here where in addition to the crazy terms they punted on a first round draft pick.
I like your to-do list and feel good about the team getting most of that done.
It is odd that Lyles is considered adequate. Other than eating innings, he did little to justify taking the mound every five days. His over 6 ERA is rarely looked upon as even below mediocre in most baseball circles. With 39 home runs given up, he was turning to watch fly balls leave the park almost twice a game. I hope he can turn it around, but since 2020 his ability to limit runs has not been good.
He’s adequate in the environment. The Royals were *this close* to pulling fans out of the stands to start a game last summer. “Innings eater” is usually a positive-ish label to hang on a pitcher, but that doesn’t really fit with Lyles. He’s more of a guy who takes up space because there’s no one else around. The Royals actually needed that last year. If Picollo plays it correctly, they won’t be in the same situation in ‘24.
Mr. B, Can I assume that Lugo's moving from 2 yrs/15mm total to 3 yrs/15mm Average Annual Value is a direct indicator as to how the Ohtani deal has impacted the market?
Also, any chance Lyles gets bumped to the 'pen and do these veteran signings indicate a bridge to the younger arms or an acknowledgement that there just ain't much to them?
Ohtani is such a unicorn, I’m having a difficult time seeing exactly how his contract would impact others. Especially guys like Lugo. What Lugo did last year was put together a solid string of starts, making him a viable option in the rotation for the first time in his career. His value was up, no matter how much Ohtani signed for.
I do see Lyles getting pushed to the pen in a mop-up/swingman kind of role, but they’ll need another arm via trade or free agency and they’ll need one or two of the younger arms to force the issue.
The good thing about Picollo is, he’s not going to wait around to see what these younger guys have. They moved on from Kowar and it sure seems that if the deal is right, they’re willing to move some of these other younger guys. Again, we’ll need to see it happen before I can fully buy in, but it feels like a promising start.
Good moves, and I think it’s past time for the Royals to take some risk on an overpay for someone with a good track record who’s likely to provide some value, instead of spending on on well below average inning eaters. Now let’s get one more quality starter, sign Witt to an extension, and make some trades to make the roster fit and get some young talent (especially pitching), and then I’ll feel good about the front office and owner for the first time in quite a while.
They’re on the right track, aren’t they? And on Lugo, it’s not even that large of an overpay. We’re not talking an Ian Kennedy deal here where in addition to the crazy terms they punted on a first round draft pick.
I like your to-do list and feel good about the team getting most of that done.
It is odd that Lyles is considered adequate. Other than eating innings, he did little to justify taking the mound every five days. His over 6 ERA is rarely looked upon as even below mediocre in most baseball circles. With 39 home runs given up, he was turning to watch fly balls leave the park almost twice a game. I hope he can turn it around, but since 2020 his ability to limit runs has not been good.
He’s adequate in the environment. The Royals were *this close* to pulling fans out of the stands to start a game last summer. “Innings eater” is usually a positive-ish label to hang on a pitcher, but that doesn’t really fit with Lyles. He’s more of a guy who takes up space because there’s no one else around. The Royals actually needed that last year. If Picollo plays it correctly, they won’t be in the same situation in ‘24.
I do love these 2 signings. It continues to squeeze the guys from last season to put up or get cut. Evaluation is over. Time to perform.