SB Nation Kansas City: All Posts by Brian Goodman

Rationale Behind David DeJesus Trade Doesn't Jive

2010-11-11T05:17:27Z

Late Wednesday afternoon, the Royals traded the longest-tenured player on last season's roster, an effective everyday player in David DeJesus, to the Oakland Athletics. The Royals received a starter for the immediate future in Vin Mazarro and a potential big-league pitcher in Justin Marks, but ultimately, the move as a whole is not a smooth fit for either team.

To draw a comparison, over the summer, the Royals traded Alberto Callaspo for a similar return from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - starter Sean O'Sullivan, who immediately slid into a rotation role with the big-league, and Will Smith, who was sent to High-A Wilmington. Whereas Callaspo was known for his patience at the plate and tendency to avoid strikeouts, there isn't much else to rave about in his game, and he went on to struggle with the Angels.

DeJesus, on the other hand, has played all three outfield positions since debuting in 2003 and excelled as one of the most overlooked hitters in baseball. Not only has DeJesus showcased consistent patience at the plate, compiling a career-high .384 on-base percentage in 2010, he is also widely regarded as one of the better defenders to roam the outfield by advanced stats and traditional stats alike. You may recall that in 2009, the Royals' PR department led a late-season charge to garner consideration for a Gold Glove for DeJesus. His active 241-game errorless streak is also a career highlight.

As in any deal, both teams must also consider the salaries involved.

Oakland, a very cost-conscious squad, takes on DeJesus' $6 million option for 2011. While they have some talent, they don't figure to seriously challenge the defending American League Champion Texas Rangers for superiority in the AL West. While DeJesus has some pop in his bat, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is known as a park that heavily favors pitchers, and the A's are starved for power bats after finishing 13th out of the 14 American League teams in home runs and 12th in slugging percentage in 2010.

In Kansas City, the Royals addressed the need for a starting pitcher by acquiring Mazarro, but at the cost of creating something of a hole in right field. Mitch Maier figures to be an interim solution, though his skill set is the type upon which the Royals should be looking for avenues to improve.They could go with AAA Omaha's David Lough, who has drawn many comparisons to DeJesus in his overall game, but Lough has no major-league experience. Another option is to hit the free agent market, which mitigates the payroll flexibility gained by sending DeJesus to Oakland.

With very few hitters available of DeJesus' caliber or better on the market, Wednesday's move raises more questions than it brings answers. It's still only November, and Royals general manager Dayton Moore has been known to be highly active in the offseason, so it will surely be interesting to follow the hot stove as it plays out.

Despite Popularity, Current Climate Not Conducive For An NBA Team In Kansas City

2010-10-13T13:11:11Z

More than five years after ground was first broken and three years after opening its doors, Sprint Center remains without an anchor tenant. At the time of its opening, critics scoffed, unable to comprehend how the publicly financed facility would generate feasible revenue without the benefit of an NBA or NHL team calling it home.

Ever since, AEG, the company that manages Sprint Center's operations, has proved naysayers wrong. Back in July, Pollstar, the event industry trade publication, cited the arena as the 5th busiest facility in the country by first quarter event ticket sales. The four facilities above it host NBA or NHL teams (and in some cases, both), which means that Sprint Center can hold its own without an anchor tenant, despite the city's fascination with the NBA as evidenced by last week's exhibition game between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Several organizations, including the Seattle Sonics (now the Thunder), Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders and Sacramento Kings have been mentioned in connection to Sprint Center due to unrest between team ownership and facility management. However, none of those conversations have led to serious consideration of relocation to the Kansas City area. Such a move would carry significant implications for the Sprint Center's bottom line.

One element is simple economics. If you play host to an NBA or NHL team, arena management is committing to 41 home dates, plus preseason and postseason dates at the opportunity cost of revenue lost by filling those dates with concerts and other performances. While fans would surely flock to Sprint Center for an NBA team in the early going, the honeymoon effect would taper off after two or three seasons - we're already starting to see an example of this with the Kauffman Stadium renovations.

One must also consider the economic climate. In the current down market, more than a quarter of the league's teams are making various efforts to sell their teams. You might say "KC should strike while the iron's hot," but it should also tell you about the dwindling value of an NBA team, especially with the possibility of a lockout next season.

Lastly, the market for basketball in the area is well-satisfied by KU, Kansas State and Missouri, three of the nation's top-flight programs. While big-name college programs haven't deterred NBA teams from settling in crowded college markets in recent years (Charlotte Bobcats, Oklahoma City Thunder), it would be tough for a team to consistently reel in TV viewers with that sort of competition in the winter months.

Due to a variety of factors, the time just isn't ripe for an NBA team to relocate to Kansas City. The league has experienced a rebirth of sorts over the past few years with tons of superstars and a full-fledged PR effort when it comes to cleaning up the game. The last thing the league needs is a lockout to squash that momentum along with the prospects of landing a team in Kansas City.

Former Collegiate Stars Get Ready For The Next Level

2010-10-03T20:45:59Z

It seems like the NBA Finals just ended, but preseason NBA action will get underway this week. For Kansas Citians, the NBA may be an afterthought with priority given to the college game and the NFL, but there are several players from area colleges at the next level. Below are local players to keep your eye on, in descending order of NBA experience:

Paul Pierce - Boston (Kansas): The eight-time All-Star is still plugging away in Boston, where management picked up Shaquille O'Neal in the offseason. It's hard to believe that Pierce is already 32, but if he can stay healthy and productive for a few more seasons, he stands a decent chance of breaking Larry Bird's franchise scoring mark.

Keyon Dooling - Milwaukee (Missouri): Dooling is still kicking as he enters his tenth season overall and first with Milwaukee. He's a proficient three-point shooter (34.6% for his career), but offers little else.

Drew Gooden - Milwaukee (Kansas): An NBA vagrant who finds moderate success nearly everywhere he goes, Gooden may have finally found a home in July, when the Bucks, his ninth organization in as many years, inked him to a five-year, $32 million contract.

Kirk Hinrich - Washington (Kansas): The Bulls traded Hinrich to Washington over the summer. With Gilbert Arenas returning and the number one overall pick in John Wall now in the fold, minutes may be tough to come by, but should either of them struggle or miss any time, Hinrich should provide some stability in the backcourt.

Nick Collison - Oklahoma City (Kansas): Collison has found rhythm in Oklahoma City as a valuable complimentary player to superstar Kevin Durant, averaging nearly a double-double per game. The Thunder asserted themselves as a force last season, winning 50 games before bowing out to the Lakers.

Linas Kleiza - Toronto (Missouri): Kleiza returns to the league after spending last season in Greece. Over the summer, Kleiza led his native Lithuania to a bronze medal finish at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey. The Raptors liked what they saw and signed the former Tiger to a four-year contract worth nearly $19 million.

Julian Wright - Toronto (Kansas): The Raptors traded for the former KU forward during the off-season after he spent three seasons in Toronto that left plenty to be desired. Toronto experienced a seven-win improvement from 2008-09, and Wright will help in the efforts to continue that trend with his length and playmaking ability.

Michael Beasley - Minnesota (Kansas State): Beasley was traded by the Heat to Minnesota, with the Heat using the extra cap space to make their major offseason moves. The Timberwolves are loaded with collegiate superstars in Kevin Love, Corey Brewer, Jonny Flynn and Wesley Johnson, but their management hasn't found a way to make it work.

Brandon Rush - Indiana (Kansas): The Pacers will have Rush, a potent three-point shooter, in the fold this year, but a failed drug test has the former Jayhawk's future in doubt. Rush will become an unrestricted free agent next summer if the Pacers don't pick up his $2.9 million option by October 31.

Darrell Arthur - Memphis (Kansas): All reports indicate that Arthur is fully recovered from a pectoral muscle tear that cost him 50 games last season. He's behind Zach Randolph on the depth chart, but still has loads of potential. Like Rush, Arthur needs to move towards realizing his potential for his current team to keep him around beyond this season.

Mario Chalmers - Miami (Kansas): Chalmers was demoted to the bench last season after starting all 82 games as a rookie in 2008-09. Despite splurging in the offseason for LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and an extension for Dwyane Wade, there's still an opportunity for Chalmers to regain his starting role for the NBA's newest superpower.

DeMarre Carroll - Memphis (Missouri): Carroll has struggled to find a role with the Grizzlies, and will look to change that in his sophomore season. Early reports from Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins have included praise for a fast start to training camp.

Bill Walker - New York (Kansas State): After getting buried on the bench in Boston, Walker was traded to New York in February and canned 50 treys in just 27 games for the Knicks after their season was lost. He dropped 25 pounds over the summer, but with a fresh season about to begin, the Knicks are looking at more seasoned players at Walker's position.

Xavier Henry - Memphis (Kansas): Memphis ownership finally settled their contract dispute with Henry, signing the 12th overall pick in June's draft to a guaranteed rookie contract. The holdout delayed Henry's acclimation to the NBA, but Henry has the shooting accuracy to flourish opposite O.J. Mayo.

Cole Aldrich - Oklahoma City (Kansas): The Thunder gained an avid rebounder when GM Sam Presti traded for Aldrich on draft day. He'll fight for supremacy on the glass, and playing for a winner from the very beginning should provide plenty of motivation for Aldrich to succeed quickly.

Sherron Collins - Charlotte (Kansas): Collins impressed for the Bobcats in summer league play, earning himself a partially guaranteed two-year contract. The former KU point guard goes from leading a college team that was tops in the nation for a portion of last season to fighting two players (DJ Augustin and Shawn Livingston) for playing time, on top of the challenge of getting into shape.

Kansas City Royals' Mike Aviles Stating His Case In September

2010-09-27T17:45:10Z

The Royals were swept by the Cleveland Indians over the weekend, and now find themselves in last place by two games in the AL Central as the season comes to a close this weekend. The roster has been overturned in recent weeks due to trades, injuries and September callups, but one player who has been with the team most of the year is hitting at a torrid pace.

Second baseman Mike Aviles, who has seen playing time open up since a concussion sidelined Chris Getz, is on fire in September, sporting a hitting line of .358/.376/.630 with six home runs; to put things in perspective, he hit just two in the season's first five months.

Aviles came up with the team in 2008 and did nothing but hit, posting a batting average of .325. Skeptics pointed to his low walk rate and high batting average on balls in play as signs that his success would not be sustainable, and they were right. In 2009, Aviles struggled and was shelved for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was moved from shortstop to second base when Ned Yost took over as manager, and Aviles still had a tough time producing power, trudging through a stretch of 331 at-bats without a single home run.

When the calendar flipped to September, Aviles began to heat up, and he cracked four home runs in a span of five games two weeks ago. Much has been made of Shin-Soo Choo's domination of the Royals this month (16-28 with four home runs), but Aviles has done similar damage to Cleveland (13-32 with four home runs). For bonus points, he cracked the franchise's 5,000th home run on Sunday against Fausto Carmona. It's becoming clear that Aviles should be a lock as the opening day second baseman in 2010, and it's largely due to the case he's made in September.

Former Jayhawk Henry Close To Signing Contract With Grizzlies

2010-09-16T13:32:26Z

After a prolonged dispute over the technicalities involved in NBA rookie contracts, it appears as though former Jayhawk and first round draft pick Xavier Henry will sign with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to the New York Times.

Teams can pay rookies between 80 and 120 percent of the league's recommended rookie pay scale. In most cases, ownership offers the maximum contract to establish rapport with their new draftees, and even the high end of that scale is affordable compared to the average free agent signing.

Originally, Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley offered Henry and Grevis Vazquez 100 percent of the slotted amount guaranteed, with the remaining 20 percent tied to performance incentives of playing time and production. For free agent contracts, those performance incentives can be a factor, but it's rare in rookie contracts.

Since June, Heisley and Henry's agent, Arn Tellem, were on different pages, and as a result, Henry didn't participate in the NBA Summer League.

This week, Heisley lifted the performance incentives and came to terms with the team's draft picks, and if Vasquez and Henry sign, as they are expected to this week, they will be the final picks of the 2010 NBA Draft to do so.

On The Lookout: Accolades Continue To Roll In For Royals Prospects

2010-09-13T17:06:07Z

While the Royals stumble as the season winds down, writers and scouts continue to fawn over the progress the team is making at the minor league levels. Baseball America, one of the top news outlets covering the minor leagues, released its final Prospect Hot Sheet of the season last week, a "who's who" of the top 15 prospects in the game.

Five players listed are from the Royals' farm system, four of whom were drafted by the team since Dayton Moore arrived in Kansas City shortly in 2006 (though his regime was not in place for that year's draft).

Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer have garnered plenty of attention, but two of the Royals' best arms are also in the mix. Pitcher John Lamb started the season in low Class A Burlington, but pitched well enough to get promoted to high A Wilmington, where he continued to excel. He is currently with the AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals as they face their St. Louis Cardinals counterpart in the Texas League playoffs.

Tim Collins, acquired in July as part of the deal that sent Rick Ankiel and Kyle Farnsworth to the Atlanta Braves, is the only reliever to crack the list. He tallied just 20.1 innings with Omaha, but fanned 21 batters and didn't surrender a single home run. In 2010, he has 108 strikeouts in just 71.1 innings of work, an unusually high rate.

Behind the plate, 19-year-old catcher Wil Myers' stock continues to skyrocket. In his first full season with the organization, he rose quickly from low A Burlington and, like Lamb, was promoted to high A Wilmington. Myers had success right away, and on the season, hit 14 home runs and walked a combined 85 times in 126 games between the two levels. That patience at the plate and sharp eye is something that's been tough for the Royals to come by. For reference, Billy Butler leads the big-league club with 58 walks in 138 games.

Most of these players are still a couple years away from making their presence known in Kansas City, but keep an eye on Moustakas, as talent evaluators believe he'll be at Kauffman Stadium sometime in May of 2011.

Kendall Will Miss 8-10 Months After Surgery To Repair "Extensively Torn" Rotator Cuff

2010-09-01T22:56:53Z

File this one under "who saw it coming?".

Royals catcher Jason Kendall, who started 118 of the team's first 132 games, will miss the remainder of the season after it was reported that he'll undergo shoulder surgery on Friday to repair the rotator cuff on his throwing shoulder. Recovery time is projected at 8-10 months, though manager Ned Yost is hopeful that Kendall will be ready for opening day, which is roughly one month before the most optimistic estimate previously given.

Kendall brought his reputation as baseball's most durable catcher to Kansas City after the Royals signed the 36-year-old catcher to a two-year contract last December. Since arriving, the veteran has been disappointing at the plate as well as behind it. For all his playing time, Kendall tallied just 18 extra base hits on the year - all of them doubles. He provided an element of patience at the plate, but without the pop to keep pitchers honest.

Defensively, Kendall threw out 41 of 152 potential base stealers and committed 13 errors in 2010, his highest total in that category since his rookie season in 1999.

Perhaps the most alarming angle of this development is the fact that Manager Ned Yost admitted that Kendall sustained the injury way back on July 17 while sliding into second base. Yost, who also managed Kendall in Milwaukee to the tune of 285 starts over two seasons, told the Kansas City Star three weeks ago that backup catcher Brayan Pena would receive increased playing time, but didn't acknowledge any sort of inury to Kendall. Pena and rookie catcher Lucas May, who was called up from Omaha on Tuesday, will split playing time behind the plate.

Earlier this season, Kendall became just the fifth player in MLB history to catch in 2,000 games, a testament to his durability.

September Call-Ups: Meche, Fields, May To Join Royals For Final Month

2010-09-01T05:06:34Z

September is finally here, and the Royals have tabbed outfielder Josh Fields, pitcher Gil Meche and catcher Lucas May to be up with the big league club for the month.

Meche hasn't pitched since May 25 due to shoulder problems which can be traced back to last season, when former Royals manager Trey Hillman overused him, leading to high pitch counts and fatigue. Originally advised to have season-ending surgery, Meche opted to rehab his shoulder without going under the knife with the goal of returning as a reliever.

That isn't going to impress cost-conscious Royals fans, as pitching out of the bullpen wasn't what the Royals had in mind in the offseason following the 2006 campaign, when Meche was signed to a contract that pays him $12 million in both 2010 and 2011.

May, who was acquired in July from the Dodgers for outfielder Scott Podsednik, has hit well this season, posting a line of .283/.349/.483 with 16 home runs, five of which have come for the Omaha Royals. The Royals could use him as competition with Brayan Pena for the role of backup catcher, but with Jason Kendall under contract for next season, it's unlikely May becomes a starter without Kendall being moved.

Missing of note from the list of September callups is third baseman Mike Moustakas, who has hit .297 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI since being promoted to AAA Omaha. General Manager Dayton Moore wants to be careful with Moustakas, who is slated to continue his year in the Dominican Republic this winter.

Also playing a factor is Moustakas' role for Team USA in the upcoming Pan-Am games. The Royals feel international play is important for Moustakas' development, but in order to be eligible to compete, Team USA hopefuls can't be on a major league 40-man roster.

The addition of more players hasn't been ruled out, and after postseason play wraps up in the minors, there's a possibility for further movement.