Unknøwn Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 The Royals, intent on competing in 2009, are close to signing free-agent reliever Juan Cruz, according to a major-league source.The deal is believed to be for two years.Cruz, 30, would team with two other right-handers, setup man Kyle Farnsworth and closer Joakim Soria, to give the Royals a formidable late-inning relief corps.The Royals would lose their second-round draft pick to the Diamondbacks for signing Cruz, whose slow-developing market prompted Major League Baseball and the players' union to facilitate sign-and-trade discussions between Cruz's agents and other clubs.The team's willingness to continue spending became evident when it recently bid between $4.5 million and $5 million for free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson, who instead signed for $3.38 million with the Dodgers.Cruz, coming off two strong seasons with the Diamondbacks, has lingered on the market as a Type A free agent who rejected an offer of arbitration from his previous club.To sign such a player, a team must part with a high draft pick. Most clubs have been unwilling to make that sacrifice.Cruz went a combined 10-1 with a 2.88 ERA the past two seasons, holding opponents to a batting average/on-base/slugging line of .199/.318/.353 and striking out 158 in 112 2/3 innings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Good deal for the Royals. Cruz is solid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknøwn Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 Hes officially signed now for 2 years $6M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Hes officially signed now for 2 years $6MThat's good value for the Royals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maine207 Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 they lost there second im asuming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknøwn Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 Yep but they have a pretty good bullpen for the 7th 8th and 9th with Cruz Farnsowrth and Soria if they can just get the game to them they might be a little suprising Dayton Moore has done a pretty good job with them so far IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknøwn Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 Just looking at the additions they've made INF Willie Bloomquist, OF Coco Crisp, RHP Kyle Farnsworth, 1B Mike Jacobs, LHP Horacio Ramirez and RHP Doug Waechter and now add Cruz to that not too bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Yep but they have a pretty good bullpen for the 7th 8th and 9th with Cruz Farnsowrth and Soria if they can just get the game to them they might be a little suprising Dayton Moore has done a pretty good job with them so far IMOYeah. Dayton Moore has done a great job in his couple of seasons of running them. I really like what the Royals bring to the table this season. They are my pick for suprise team in the AL. My pick for surprise team in the NL is the Cincinnati Reds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.