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As many predicted, Jeff Francoeur is coming to the Kansas City Royals. The Royals announced the move at a Monday press conference.
The Kansas City Royals on Wednesday confirmed the signing of Jeff Francoeur. The move doesn't come as a huge shock as the Royals were rumored to be interested in him and, of course, the GM Dayton Moore connection with the Atlanta Braves.
Francoeur spoke with Buck Lanford of FOX 5 in Atlanta and confirmed the signing.
Just spoke with Jeff Francoeur and he confirmed he signed a one year deal with the Kansas City Royals with a mutual option for a 2nd year. Francoeur said he's excited to be reunited with Dayton Moore and Ned Yost, and looks forward to the opportunity to play everyday. Francoeur said he came close to signing with the Phillies, but the chance to play everyday in KC was a huge factor.
I guess you can chalk Francoeur up for some playing time in Kansas City with this news.
As usual, check out Royals Review to see what Royals fans are saying about the move.
The Kansas City Royals have made at least one move during MLB's Winter Meetings and it's one many folks expected. Bob Dutton of the KC Star reports Jeff Francoeur will sign with the Royals. The connection of course is the Atlanta Braves when both Francoeur and Royals GM Dayton Moore were there.
Will McDonald of Royals Review has been waiting for this move and says it just doesn't add up.
Those are appalling numbers. Appalling. Francoeur's horrible approach at the plate doesn't just erode his ability to walk, it hurts his ability to... you know, hit the ball hard. In the last three seasons, Francoeur has been worse than Mark Teahen's career numbers, worse than Scotty Pods, and worse than Jose Guillen's Royal Era performance. Guillen "hit" .256/.308/.420 as a Royal.
The Royals were reportedly sniffing around him during the MLB trade deadline last summer but nothing came to fruition. What did come to fruition is the prediction from an unnamed NL executive last September on Francoeur's future:
One NL club official, on Francoeur in '11: "He'll be a Royal. Guaranteed."
Since Royals Review has been waiting -- unhappily waiting is more like it -- for this move to happen, you have to check out their reaction to the news.
Kansas City Royals Welcome Jeff Francoeur At Press Conference
Kansas City Royals GM Dayton Moore officially announced the arrival of Jeff Francoeur to the team. Both Moore and Francoeur spoke at the press conference and Francoeur said a few times that his relationship with Moore played a role and he wanted to be in a comfortable place.
Francoeur says there are a lot of guys coming up in the Royals farm system, and other good guys that are in Kansas City,
Francoeur said he got too big the last few years and he wants to "get back to having fun". He says when he's happy and comfortable he tends to play well.
We'll see if he's right.
Here's the newest Royal:
Dec 13 6:05p by Joel Thorman - 0 comments