The St. Louis Cardinals come into the 2012 offseason having won a World Series in 2011 and falling one game short of returning to the Fall Classic in 2012.  The team, for the most part, is set at almost every position.  They have publicly said they will be exploring the option of upgrading the middle infield, the only two spots on the team that anyone can easily look at and say “they could be better”.

But that bothers this writer.  I do not like a team that simply “stands pat”, no matter how successful they have been in the past.  This team can be better at a few spots on the field and with today’s notebook, I look to the top of the free agent class and ask the simple question: Why not look at Michael Bourn?

Now, hear me out before you jump on me for not being a Jon Jay supporter, for wanting to throw money around just for the sake of spending, or for blocking prospects as they progress through the Cardinals’ system.  I assure  you, there are good reasons to examine the possibility of one of the top outfielders available on the market wearing the Birds On The Bat.

Defense Is Key
Personally, when I look at the middle of the diamond (catcher, second base, shortstop, center field), I prefer to have guys that will solidify the defense.

Now, I’m not trying to say that Jon Jay is a bad defender.  Quite the opposite really.  That’s the point here, if I can look at a player and say that he is an upgrade in defense at a key position where I feel the team is already strong, that shows a lot of respect for the other player.  Michael Bourn is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner in center field and has the speed to help cover the gaps that are left by having power guys like Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran at the corners.

This Bench Needs Help
It was Chris Reed who mentioned in a recent discussion the lack of faith in the bench.  Adron Chambers and Shane Robinson are average players, but pinch hitting late in a game when the Cardinals need runners, they do not inspire a ton of confidence.

Jon Jay has proven in the past that he is more than capable of coming off the bench during a ball game and producing.  In addition, he has proven in the past that he can produce when not in the lineup consistently.  He is the type of player that can jump into the starting lineup at any point but can also be a weapon late in games.

It Is Not Financial Suicide
Looking at what the Cardinals have coming off the books for this season (Lance Berkman, Kyle Lohse), reinvesting that money in a player like Bourn is not the end of the world.

Many experts project Bourn to get a contract very similar to that of Torii Hunter when he signed his former deal with Anaheim.  That projects to a 5 year/$90 million contract or an average value of $18 million per year.  Puma’s 2012 contract was for $12 million while Lohse was earning just under $12 million himself.  Personally, I feel that Bourn will land closer to $15 million a season for around four years, though either number is within reason for the Cardinals.

The youth of this franchise offers some financial flexibility over the next few seasons.  With key positions being patrolled by home grown talent and other prospects being projected to take over other positions, the time for being able to take on a bit of salary is now.

It Doesn’t Block Prospects
The Cardinals key prospect in the outfield is Oscar Taveras, who has spent most of his minor league career patrolling center field.

That being said, Taveras has been projected by many to have a future at the corner outfield positions and the Cardinals, most likely, see him as the right fielder of the future after Beltran’s contract plays out.  The only person displaced by the addition of Bourn over the next four to five years is Jon Jay.

It Solves The Top Of The Lineup
It has been a long time since the Cardinals have had a player that can solidify the leadoff position the way Michael Bourn can.

Yes, he strikes out a lot.  I do not like that in the leadoff role any more than the next guy.  But he steals a lot of bases, walked a career high 70 times last season, was able to show occasional power with nine home runs, and is a commodity that the Cardinals have not had in a very long time.

Summary
Sometimes you have to be willing to upgrade even when you are satisfied with what you have.  The Cardinals have a chance to improve themselves defensively, on the bench, and at the top of the order in a big way by taking a look at Bourn as a key component of the future.

While I do not feel the Cardinals have to make a move like this to continue to be successful, it would be nice to see the team make a move like this in an effort to get better.  After all, it would be nice to win the division instead of fighting their way into the playoffs through the wild card.

Bill Ivie started i70baseball to write about his love for the game and the teams he enjoys watching most, the Cardinals and the Royals.

Barring a complete collapse, it looks as though the Kansas City Royals will not finish in fourth or fifth place for the first time in ten years and the second in fifteen. They need to play one game over .500 in their next 32 to finish with their best record since 2003. They should comfortably surrender their lowest run total since 1995 while posting an improvement in wins for the third consecutive season, something they haven’t done since 1992. All of this begs the question, is this progress?

In terms of “The Process”, you would have to say that yes, this is progress. The Royals will head into 2013 with nearly an entire line up of players that are either homegrown or traded for while they were still unknown quantities. Nearly all of these players will either be locked up under a club-friendly deals or not yet eligible for free agency. The only real exception is Jeff Francoeur, who will most likely get one last chance to start in right field and prove exactly who he is toDaytonMoore…at least until after next year’s Super Two deadline. Francoeur and Bruce Chen will both be back in 2013 at a combined cost of $12 million. Still, what Moore has always told us is that once you have a majority of the team composed of your guys, under contract on your terms, then you can have the resources to go out and spend free agent money on one or two pieces where you need them. Mr. Moore, you have exactly that heading into 2013 with a club that I’m certain you’ll sell to us as improving, so where do the Royals need pieces?

In terms of position players there are two clear weaknesses in the Royals lineup. One of them we’ve already mentioned, right field, will be manned by Jeff Francoeur, and has a clear succession plan in Wil Myers. In other words, there is absolutely no reason to go add a right fielder. The second, and more glaring, weakness is at second base. Johnny Giavotella would have to hit a ton to make up for his defense, and to this point he hasn’t shown the ability to do that in the majors. Chris Getz, the likely starter in 2013, would have to be a gold glover to make up for his bat and he is not. The most prominent free agent at second base is Robinson Cano…even if the Royals had all the money in the world; I don’t think he’s coming toKansas Cityunder any circumstances. There are no other guaranteed upgrades over Getz available on the free agent market so it seems unlikely the Royals will add a major contract for a position player in 2013.

Obviously, the Royals major hole is in the rotation. In fact, their two biggest holes are in the rotation. They have a nice collection of 4 and 5 starters, but no one that figures to be a 3 or better in 2013. With a bullpen that is set and a lineup that isn’t changing, this is where all of Dayton Moore’s attention should be focused this offseason and he’s said as much. There is no telling how much money Moorehas to spend, but let’s just use $20 million. Why that number? That’s the prudent estimate of profit for the club in 2012, and you know David Glass has always said he’s just looking to break even. There are a lot of Royals fans dreaming about Zack Greinke, not only do I think that would be a pipe dream, it would also be ill-advised. Greinke will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million, best case scenario about 100% of the Royals free agent budget. One pitcher with a 2.3 WAR does not make this pitching staff that much better. The Royals need to go out and get two pitchers at approximately $10 million a piece. I’m not going to get into who they should or shouldn’t be until the offseason, but the Royals should have them all scouted and should go hard after the two pitchers in that range they think best fit this rotation. Just throwing out two names off the top of my head, a rotation of Shaun Marcum-Jeremy Guthrie-Bruce Chen-Mendoza/Hochevar-Odorizzi/Smith could be a competitive rotation. Even better, the club would have the possibility of Danny Duffy or Felipe Paulino in July. That would be progress. But back to the question, is this progress? 2012? It is, but like everything else involving the Royals, it won’t mean a thing unless Glass and Moore take advantage of it.

By now I’m sure just about every Kansas City Royals fan has heard about Danny Parkins’ interview* with David Glass on the first day of All Star Weekend. Glass, of course, came off as aloof and utterly clueless as he ever has, and earned as much ire for the way he ended the interview as he did for anything he said. He sparked a Twitter debate amongst the fan base over who is more to blame, him or Dayton Moore. You know, exactly the type of thing you want to do as you begin to welcome all of baseball to your city for the first time in nearly 40 years.

* For a transcript of the interview, click here

While it was completely unprofessional for Glass to walk away from the microphone mid-interview, that really isn’t what bugged me about the whole debacle. It was this exchange here:

Parkins: What do you say to fans that wish you spend more on payroll for this team?

Glass: Uhh, Well, in a market this size you can spend a certain amount on payroll. You… You’re never going to be able to spend what the Yankees and the other big market teams can spend but our approach from the very beginning has been that we’re not looking to make money with the franchise we simply want to break even and if we have an if we have an opportunity to win we’ll step up and do whatever it takes to… to help us take that extra step. But for the most part all the money that we can generate we’ll spend on payroll and singing amateur players

We have heard this song and dance from Glass since he bought the team in 2000 and it has been the source of much debate. There are a lot of people that think professional sports owners should expect to operate at a loss, as if owning a professional team is a charity, I am not one of those people. However, I do feel like owners should at least be honest with the fans about their plan, and their motives…a look at the numbers show Glass has been far from honest.

According to Forbes annual MLB valuation, the Royals turned a profit of $10.3 million in 2011, their eighth consecutive season of profits and the eleventh out of twelve since Glass bought the team in 2000. What’s more, the team is now valued at $354 million dollars. While that may be modest in terms of the value of a professional franchise, it is $258 million more than Glass paid originally. Added to the income the Royals generated over the last 13 years, it brings a net gain of $332 million in 12 years on a $96 million investment.

To put that in perspective, if Glass had taken that $96 million back in the year 2000 and invested it, he would have had to earn 13.27% for twelve years in a row to bring in the type of money this club has for him. Does that sound like breaking even to you?

What makes everything so much worse is that Glass has turned this profit while fielding one of the worst teams in the history of baseball. In his 12+ years as owner the Royals are 847-1179 (.418). Before he took over they were 2471-2411 (.506) all-time. That’s the difference between averaging 82 wins a year and 68. But it’s getting better lately right? Um, Forbes projects 2012 as the most profitable year of the Glass era, with the team earning a whopping $28.5 million in income. This for a team that was less than 6 games out of first for a good part of June after three of its best pitchers had Tommy John surgery. How much different would this team look if Glass had signed C.J. Wilson for 5 years and $85 million dollars? He could have done that and still cleared more than $10 million in profit!

The fact is that Mr. Glass has not only tarnished, but nearly destroyed the legacy that Ewing Kauffman left with the Kansas City Royals, profited handsomely from it, and lied through his teeth to his customers as he’s done it. Glass purchased a respected franchise with a World Championship and a history of winning more than losing. He has turned it into a cash cow that doubles as the laughingstock of baseball. What can we do about it? Nothing, as evidenced by this exchange from the aforementioned interview:

Parkins: You would never consider selling the team?

Glass: No.

Parkins: What do you say to fans who would like you to sell the team?

Glass: Uhh, yeah, I’m sorry.

Sorry…I could not have said it better myself. A sorry excuse for an owner…a sorry steward of the Kauffman legacy…but one hell of a businessman.

The season is finally here.  No more what ifs, no more predictions, just statistics and results.  All the fans can do now is sit and watch what happens on the field.  Many predictions have been made over the last six months about the Kansas City Royals yet like everything else in life all the assumptions account for nothing just the results. All the excitement about the Royals in 2012 can continue with the team having a good productive start to the season or the excitement could taper off like seasons in the past.  Kansas City has not been this excited about their hometown team for a long time, the 1970s and 1980s to be exact.  But this time it is different.  This team wants to win not only for themselves but for the city itself.  Also, not only do they want to win but they want to do it here in Kansas City.  The future is still the future but the present is now and nothing feels greater than to have our team playing in our town right now.

In years past, the city has always been excited about the fact that baseball season has started but that was because they had another option for a night out on the town that started at Kauffman Stadium.  Now, fans have the excitement on the field drawing them in.  They are not just going for Garth Brooks in the sixth inning or hot dogs or over priced cold beverages. Now for the first time in years they are going to watch the likes of first basemen Eric Hosmer, 2011 Gold Glove winner Alex Gordon out in left field, a young gun pitching staff along with the whole cast of Royals.  The team is finally the attraction and they want nothing more than to be the talk of the town.  In years past teams that the Royals organization put out of the field were there to make their money and get on to the next thing.  But this time it is different.  Winning is now the only thing.  Not many people outside of Kansas City are truly giving this team a chance.  Reasons like they are young, they won’t spend the money needed to field a winner, they are breeding the next big New York Yankee or Oakland A, but that is exactly what some of the players on this team want the outside media to say.  The underdog mentality will fuel this young ball club to do what I believe to be great things not only in years to come but this season as well.

The clubhouse has never looked as tight nit as they do now.  This team of young guys who have grown up differently, gotten their shot in the Major Leagues in many ways, have come together to join as a team.  Talent only can get a team so far but if these guys can stick together and be the family that a team needs to be success will come.  All of this aside, what do we do now?  All we can do is sit, wait, and hope that the team the Royals are putting out on the field is what we all think it can be.  Royals teams of the past had their time but for now, like the season slogan states, this is the 2012 Royals time to shine.  And shine they will.

Historically, the St Louis Cardinals have never been big spenders in the free agent market; that is, before they signed Matt Holliday to that huge long-term contract about a year or so ago; and before they potentially sign Albert Pujols to his gazillion dollar long-term pact. Word out of the Pujols camp is “It’s going take a gazillion dollars to keep Albert in St Louis.”

That is a lot of money (I googled it to be certain), but the Cardinals can afford it, despite the front office rhetoric we usually hear about the team’s modest financial wherewithal. Certainly, the Cardinals normally avoid the top-dollar superstars testing the free agent waters, but I think they will make an exception with Mr Pujols – the game’s greatest player. He has become almost as big an institution in St Louis as Stan Musial; and that is saying a lot.

As far as the team’s “financial strength” is concerned, I think we can all rest a little easier knowing that Forbes Magazine recently appraised the St Louis Cardinals franchise at a cool $488 million. Fifteen years ago, when Bill DeWitt and his partners purchased the team, they shelled out $150 million, and in that package came a couple of parking garages, which they promptly sold for $75 million. According to my brilliant accounting calculations, Cardinal Ownership is up $413 million from their original cash outlay; I wish my investment portfolio had the same kind of return over the past fifteen years; how about you? The “bean counters” out there may say my accounting guidelines are flawed; that the team’s “liquid assets” are nowhere near $413 million, blah, blah, blah. Maybe that is true; still, I think they can somehow scrape up enough dough to keep Number Five in a Redbird uniform for another seven to ten years. Knowing that makes me feel warm and fuzzy; and confident the “money issue” with Pujols will be a “non-issue”.

Perhaps the team’s apparent solid financial position made Ownership giddy enough to splurge on free agent-former Astros Cardinal killer-Lance Berkman for a one year deal worth a paltry $8 million – “chump change” by today’s salary standards. This move may seem insignificant to some casual observers who feel Berkman is over the hill, fat, and a defensive liability in left field or right field; or wherever he may be stationed. I disagree. He may not have a Gold Glove in his future, and he may need to shed a few pounds, but I think a return to the National League Central in 2011 is just what he needs to get his bat going again. This is a guy who has averaged over 100 RBIs, 30 home runs, and just under a .300 bating average in his career; not to mention an on-base percentage over .400 (4th best in MLB among active players).

Last season was not a good one for Lance, who hit a mere 13 home runs for the Astros in 85 games, before being shipped off to the Yankees, where he would hit only one more home run in limited duty. He obviously did not like American League pitching and/or playing for the Evil Empire. How many standing ovations did the Yankees fans give him when he strolled to the plate? My educated guess: Zero. Playing in front of fans who are notorious for giving former adversaries “standing ovations” on a regular basis has to be worth something. My educated guess: Over 20 home runs and close to 90 RBIs. Sure, he’ll probably botch a few balls in the outfield, but his bat should make up for any defensive liabilities; if he stays healthy. If he magically returns to the type of production closer to his career averages, that $8 million contract will be one of the biggest bargains the Cardinals will ever receive; and the team will likely be playing deep into the post season; perhaps “World Series deep”.

As I mentioned earlier, the Cardinals are normally quiet on the “free agent front”; the players they have signed in the past have typically been solid performers over their careers, but not the big name superstars. My curiosity got the better of me today, so I looked back on the team’s recent free agent acquisitions (since 2000) to see how things played out. Not surprisingly, most of the players who came on board via the free agent route were quite productive during their stints with St Louis. After all, the Cardinals have the best record in the National League since 2000; it was not an accident.

Here is a quick look back on the deals over the past ten years:

January 7, 2000 – Andy Benes returns for a second tour of duty with the Cardinals (from the Diamonbacks), posting a decent 24-20 record in three seasons, helping the team reach the post season each year.

February 3, 2000 – Shawon Dunston (formerly of the Mets) is acquired (one year deal), and also does his part to help the Cards make it into the post season.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that the Cards also made a sensational trade with the Angels, acquiring Jim Edmonds for Kent Bottenfield and Adam Kennedy. Holy cow!

January 5, 2001 – Bobby Bonilla (from the Braves), Bernard Gilkey (from the Red Sox), and John Mabry (from the Padres) are signed. Nothing spectacular, but solid role players who fit in nicely.

December 10, 2001 – Cards sign closer Jason Isringhausen (from Oakland); in seven seasons through 2008, he racked up a franchise record 217 saves. How about that?

December 18, 2001 – Oops, the Cards sign former Yankee Tino Martinez to play first base in the wake of Mark McGwire’s retirement; he responds with a disappointing .267 batting average and 37 home runs in two seasons with St Louis; plus, he didn’t even like playing for the greatest fans in the world. Jerk.

December 13, 2002 – Bingo! The Cards sign a 27 year old sore-armed pitcher by the name of Chris Carpenter (from the Blue Jays), who had a career 49-50 record. He would miss the entire 2003 season, following shoulder surgery, but since 2004, has been one of the best pitchers in baseball, winning the NL Cy Young Award in ’05, and coming close every other year. That’s a winner!

December 17 – 18, 2002 – Catcher Joe Girardi (formerly with the Rockies) and pitcher Cal Eldred (formerly with the White Sox), climb on board and do little to help their new team. Girardi apparently learned enough to become a pretty good manager, however.

December 16, 2003 – Reggie Sanders (formerly with the Pirates) and Jeff Suppan (formerly with the Red Sox) climb on board in time to help the Cardinals reach the World Series; ironically, against the Red Sox, where Suppan would put on a clinic in Game 3 on how to not score from third base on a ground ball to second base. I was fortunate enough to have witnessed that travesty, first-hand; to this day, I still don’t believe what I saw!

January 9, 2004 – Sentimental favorite Ray Lankford returns to the Cardinals (from the Padres), and plays quite well in limited action for the pennant winning Redbirds.

December 23, 2004 – After losing shortstop Edgar Renteria to free agency (the Red Sox), the Cards sign future ’06 World Series hero David Eckstein (from the Angels) to replace him; he becomes a fan favorite right off the bat, hitting .294 as a lead-off hitter, while playing solid defense up the middle. Nice commodities!

January 6, 2005 – Former Cubs second baseman Mark Grudzielanek gives the Cards a solid bat (he’s the last Cardinal to hit for the cycle) and adequate defense, to boot. I hated to see him leave.

December 13, 2005 – Ricardo Rincon (formerly with Oakland) signs a two-year deal for under $3 million, then disappears, while still dressed up like a Cardinal. The pay scale has edged up slightly over the past five years, eh?

December 15, 2005 – Braden Looper (formerly with the Mets) signs a three year deal ($13.5 million) to try to save a few games every now and then. I actually witnessed, first-hand, one of his saves in ’06, against the mighty Diamondbacks. They needed that save; otherwise, no post season; no World Series. Thanks, Braden!

December 23, 2005 – In the wake of Larry Walker’s retirement, the Cards sign Juan Encarnacion (formerly with the Marlins) to a three-year, $15 million contract, and earns his keep; especially in ’06. They also signed Junior Spivey (formerly with the Nationals) to a one year deal to play second base, after Mark Grudzielanek signs with Kansas City, of all teams!

February 17, 2006 – Former Mariners third baseman, Scott Spezio hooks on with the future World Champions, and plays a huge role in helping the Cards reach The Promised Land; with late-season and post season heroics, which made Spezio and his little red goatee a folk hero in St Louis.

October 28, 2006 – The day after winning their National League record tenth World Series championship, the Cards sign second baseman Adam Kennedy (formerly with the Angels) and pitcher Kip Wells (formerly with the Pirates); both deals backfire; Kennedy hit .219 in ’07, while Wells went 7-17 with an ERA of 5.70. “Good luck” went on a temporary hiatus after the Cards knocked off Detroit in just five games, huh?

December 1, 2006 – But wait! The Cards sign free agent Ryan Ludwick to provide some home run power, and he responds with 37 dingers in an otherwise dreadful ’07 season for the team. Everything seemed to go wrong that season for the Redbirds.

October 31, 2007 – Jason LaRue (formerly with the Royals) signs a contract as back-up catcher for the Cards, but his career is now over; thanks to an injury sustained in last season’s August brawl in Cincinnati.

March 14, 2008 – Pitcher Kyle Lohse (formerly with the Phillies) is added to the roster; he responds with a 15-6 record and 3.78 ERA in his first season with the team. It’s been all downhill since for Kyle.

For the most part, the Cardinals have fared well when dabbling in free agency, spending wisely and generally receiving good value for their millions. When this season is over, I hope we can look back on the Lance Berkman deal and say, “I knew he could still play! Hooray for the World Champion Cardinals, and hooray for gazillionaire Albert Pujols for agreeing to stay in St Louis for something less than ‘top dollar’!”

Is this a great team, or what?

The Giants are in the playoffs, but starting pitcher Barry Zito is not at the center of this team’s success. Zito is what some would call a bust after signing his massive contract a few years ago and only producing average numbers at best while taking home a greater than average check. Zito is not at the end of his career but he has struggled throughout the last few years. The Giants have more or less moved on without Zito and without getting rid of him. He still wears the uniform, collects the checks, and takes a start from time to time, but the team does not turn to him in a time of need.

Zito is a classic example of a guy who needs a change of address. Staying with Giants will most likely end with Zito leaving the league too soon on a sour note. The Giants and Zito both need to understand that they cannot stay in this partnership.

The Royals have a young talented pitcher who has already realized he needs a change of address in Zack Greinke.

A Zito-for-Greinke swap does not make sense when you first hear it, but if you add in a few players from the Giants and a few dollars, the deal starts to look good. The Royals could add Zito to the front of the rotation for a year or two as the rest of the young pitching staff matures. Zito would also be on a team in Kansas City where the pressure to win would be lessened. All of these things could add up to a great turnaround for Mr. Zito. Zito plus a few prospects and a bag of cash would balance the scale in the favor of this trade in this writer’s mind.

Bringing back a pitcher who can fill Greinke’s slot in the lineup has to be priority number one in any trade. The Royals have the ability to swap for a bad remaining contract since Greinke has a few years left on his deal. The team could also spend some of their free agent money on a deal like this one. A star for star swap is something that you never see anymore in baseball. It seems like every trade these days is based on money or off the field problems. A Zito for Greinke deal would follow in these footsteps with the Giants getting rid of a bad contract and the Royals getting rid of a player who is not happy.

The Giants would probably make this deal in a heartbeat since it seems like the team has all but given up on Zito. The only concern for any team picking up Greinke would be the stress factor on a winning team in a bigger market. Greinke almost left baseball once because of a social disorder, so it safe to say that a big market team might help to bring these issues back into play.

This deal and others like it are more likely in fantasy baseball, but the Royals need to start thinking outside the box if they are going to finally turn this thing around.

Jose Guillen needs to be released, traded, or playing.

This situation needs to be solved. The solution can be any of the three, but the current “DFA him and wait” strategy is not the answer. Guillen will bring little more than a low level prospect back in any deal because his contract is horrible, but it matches his attitude, so I guess that is okay. Most teams are running away from this guy for one or both of these reasons. The Giants and Dodgers have been linked to Guillen in some circles, but other reports say those are just rotten lies. It seems like nothing is black or white with Guillen. The team either needs to take the first bag of balls and two dozen hot dogs they are offered for him so we all can move on, or make him play. Guillen would not mind getting out of Kansas City, and the fans would not mind if he left. There is no real love between the two sides. This is not Mike Sweeney or Frank White we are talking about here.

The team might be to blame here for not just trading him at the deadline. Someone would have taken him if the price was low enough. The Royals have held on to Guillen for too long. He has now become a $4 million human paper weight.

The Royals just need to end the Guillen era one way or another. If the team does not want him, sending him down to the minors is the worst solution. If you thought is personality was bad in Kansas City then just imagine what it will be like in Omaha. I would hate to let his bad attitude ruin the AAA clubhouse.

The long drama that Guillen has become in the last 45 days is doing nothing to add a positive to this team. Management needs to shoulder the blame for throwing money away on Guillen, holding on to Guillen after they realized he was not a fit, and for now letting him stay on this team this long.

If the team does not want to just eat the few million left on his deal, then stick him out in the outfield or at DH or middle relief or make him sing take me out to the ballgame for all I care. Just make up your mind, Kansas City.