The Royals are one of seven teams with interest in Jeff Francis, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). Crasnick named the Nationals, Pirates, Rangers, Yankees and Mets as suitors for the left-hander late last month. Those clubs, along with the Rockies, maintain interest in Francis, Crasnick writes.
Francis missed all of the 2009 season as he recovered from shoulder surgery. He was generally healthy in 2010, when he logged 104 1/3 innings and posted a 5.00 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 for the Rockies.
The Royals expressed interest in Kevin Millwood early in the offseason. Now that they've traded Zack Greinke, their need for starting pitching is even more apparent. Kyle Davies, Luke Hochevar, Sean O'Sullivan and Vin Mazzaro are internal rotation candidates, but GM Dayton Moore figures to add at least one starter by the time Spring Training begins.
Is Jeff Francis interested in the Royals? Why would he go there now?
To me a mentor to Montgomery, Duffy, Lamb, and Dwyer, 4 top 5 prospects who will be here sometime this season. later rather than sooner.
And a non-pressure situation to regain his value.
That’s the case they’d have to make, but it may be a tough sell. I haven’t heard anything from Francis on what kind of situation he is looking for. It’s hard to imagine a guy blowing off contenders like the Yankees or even pseudo contenders like the Mets unless he really hates the spotlight.
I hear what your saying but if your looking at from his eyes, why would you want to pitch in the AL/NL East to regain value. Wouldn’t he not want to pitch in an semi easier division to regain his value for next FA? Also, at the end of the day money talks, we do not offically know who much both the Mets/Yankees were offering. IF the Royals are offering more why not
I’m sorry. Are you suggesting the Royals might outbid the Yankees for someone?
I guess it’s theoretically possible…
There have been some really bad rotations in recent baseball history, but I would argue the staffs the Royals and Pirates will throw out there to start the 2011 season will rival any of those. I realize KC is loaded in the Minors but unless some of those arms are coming this year, there is a legitimate chance they have a top 3 pick again next year.
Hochevar’s projections look good, and Mazzaro should fare well now that KC has upgraded their up-the-middle defense. It’s not looking good overall, but it’s not the doom and gloom some are making it out to be.
Mazarro is a 4th or 5th starter on a really bad team. A long man out of the pen on a good team. Hochover? Love how some still view him as having “upside”
Have you actually seen their projections, or are you just pre-judging these players because they have the word “Royals” on the front of their jersey? You strike me as less than objective.
Really? Actually love small/mid market baseball teams. Consider myself to be a pretty objective observer and don’t look at any situation with fan/team blinders. There isn’t a lot of upside on that staff. I will agree that 2006 staff would win most futility battles. Worst part of that staff was that it 3/5 were making over 4 mil and Good old Odalis was over 8 mil if I recall
Have you actually seen their projections, or are you just pre-judging these players because they have the word “Royals” on the front of their jersey? You strike me as less than objective.
Man, its hard to see any rotation being as bad as the 2006 Royals
Mark Redman – Scott Elarton – Runelvys Hernandez – Luke Hudson – Odalis Perez
Ugh, i know Hochevar, Davies, and Mazzaro aren’t exactly aces, but they GOT to be better than that crew
Man, its hard to see any rotation being as bad as the 2006 Royals
Mark Redman – Scott Elarton – Runelvys Hernandez – Luke Hudson – Odalis Perez
Ugh, i know Hochevar, Davies, and Mazzaro aren’t exactly aces, but they GOT to be better than that crew
Seems as though GMDM is applying the “Frank Wren outfield philosophy” to his rotation. Just like having 6 4th outfielders, having 8 4th and 5th starters does not a rotation maketh.
Royals will be lucky to win 50 games this year with that staff, the bullpen is even worse besides soria.
Actually, the Royals pen should end up being pretty decent. It will feature some of their young talent, which it may gradually accumulate more of from the minors as the season progresses.
Uninformed posts make me sad.
As stated below the Royals pen may be top shelf
Royals will be lucky to win 50 games this year with that staff, the bullpen is even worse besides soria.
Are the Royals aware that Francis has never played for the Braves?
I’d rather see KC go hard after Garza. They’ve got the prospects to do it, and he’d be an asset next year and in ’13 when all the young guys are up – a Devil Rays redux, in a way.
This would be a pointless move. They just traded Greinke away in order to get prospects, because they don’t need a front-line starter like that right now. Francis may not be as good, but they wouldn’t have to give up any of their young talent. And it is much more important for KC in the long run to have their prospects. Now, if they were to actually be in contention in 2 years at the trade deadline, then that might be the time to consider trading some of the young guys. But, not now.
no they traded Zack because he wanted out. More prospects is the last thing they need
A team in KC’s position has no business trading the players that could potentially make them relevant in order to get them 1 player. Of course they need more prospects. Prospects are like currency. The more you have, the better. There’s a good chance that many of the ones in KC’s system won’t pan out, so if they want to keep as stocked as possible. Plus, they can use those prospects to trade for players down the line, when it makes sense.
I’d rather see KC go hard after Garza. They’ve got the prospects to do it, and he’d be an asset next year and in ’13 when all the young guys are up – a Devil Rays redux, in a way.
If Francis wants his best shot at playing for a playoff team it might be signing with the Royals. If he signs there he will very likely just be a placeholder for some of the arms coming up midseason and will be traded to a playoff contender midseason who had a starter go down.
I think he’d be an excellent fit for Kansas City. As long as he stays healthy, and he’s looked fine other than the surgery, he should give them decent bulk innings. He won’t be an ace, but they need to throw some live bodies out there in the rotation who won’t fall flat on their face and he could even have trade value at the deadline if he pitches well.
Yankees, please say no. Isn’t Mark Prior enough?
Yankees, please say no. Isn’t Mark Prior enough?