Yea but isn't he arbitration eligible in 2 years? So then if he goes to arbitration he's going to get some shit deal based off this contract. Don't get me wrong, this is a steal for the Royals...I think Perez is that good.

He should get a new agent asap.

So you think he won't ask for a new contract if he wildly outperforms expectations on his new cheaper contract?

This contract buys out his arbitration years. He will never go to arbitration now.

This is a fair contract, compared to what Matt Moore received from the Rays (the current pace-setter for these types of deals). A guy with legitimate ace starter potential - and the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball - only got twice what Perez got.

Think about that. Perez is a top 100 prospect type who plays great defense at a premium position but still has big questions about his bat at the big league level. I love the guy, but this deal is not a screw job. It's fair, based on the current market and his status within it.

And just to put it in context:

Perez will make about twice this year what he otherwise would have ($750k vs. league min).

He will make $1 million next year (again, about twice).

He will make $1.5 million in 2014 (about twice if he didn't qualify for arb)

He will make $1.75 million in 2015 (which is a pretty decent projection for his arb value at this point). Same with the $2 million in 2016. And the option years are very generous.

I think he would. But doesn't this force him to play for just over a million for five years?

Five years can be a long time

I just think he's going to be worth alot more than this contract in just 2 years. It's a steal for the Royals. At least I hope he turns out that good.

I guess catchers are the lowest paid position on the field almost so I guess it could be worse for him.

That's the point of these deals. He is getting more upfront money and gets financial security and if he works out, the Royals get good value later on.

If you read the article on the press conference that was posted, Sal wants to play for the Royals long term and the Royals want him around long term, so they got something done.

And most financial planners would tell you an extra $1/2 million now is better than an additional $1 million 3-4 years down the road...

BTW, ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE should listen to the Danny Duffy segment from Nick Wright's show today. Unbelievable confidence.

Danny Duffy signed a 1 year deal for $487, 750 today. Short story and a few others here...

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/new...ook_kc&c_id=kc

LOL

I don't know if this has already been discussed, but why are the Royals obsessed with one-year contracts? This seems very unusual in professional sports.

Hey now,

Of all the Wal-Mart Employees, the Royals are among the best paid!

This is pretty common for young players who are under team control. It happens every year. You just don't hear much about it.

The players are already under team control. These contracts amount to little more than good will gestures.

Its common in baseball for players before free agency, especially if they are not arbitration-eligible. The only reason why a player would sign a multi-year contract that only covers arbitration years would be for injury security. If they are open to it, a team who is talking multi-year often would be interested only if they are buying out or getting options on free agent years.

If the player is willing to risk injury and wants to maximize his value in arbitration, or if the player is not interested in selling off his free agent years before free agency, or if he's not good enough for the team to want to give him a long-term deal, then they usually do a bunch of one-year contracts.

Post-season expansion this year?

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...ld-card-2012/1

Thanks for the info on the contracts, guys. I'm not too familiar with all the arbitration and contract stuff, obviously.

We're in!

sweet! I was hoping they'd get this done for 2012.

Salvador Perez extension opening the door to extend Eric Hosmer long term. That is the buzz.

How so? I mean, how are they related?

I think they're brothers.

Here's mellinger' article from today .. posting from my phone so hopefully this works.

http://m.kansascity.com/kcstar/db_41...tguid=0wdmFg4v

Hot.

Hosmer reminds me of Ken Griffey Jr in the way he is still enjoy it, I am enjoying it as well, there was a distinct point when Griffey just got tired of the business and media aspect and it showed when he was in public.

This makes me happy. Love love love Hosmer.

http://www.ranyontheroyals.com/2012/02/perezence.html

Rany's article on Perez. I found it a good read.

Two days!

Its official, 2nd wild card this season. However, to make it happen they had to do some really weird things to fit it into this year's playoff schedule.

First, there's still only one open day between the last game and the play-in game. If we get a three-way tie for a division and/or some rain, then things could get crazy. (Ties for a wild card will be broken by formula if you have one team involved in both a tie for a division and a wild card, but division ties can only be broken on the field)

Second, for this year only, they are going to the old hated 2-3 format for the best of 5 division series. (The lower-seeded team gets to host the first 2 games) They will go back to the modern 2-2-1 format next year but they had to do it this way in 2012 because, again, travel. The #1 and #2 seeds in both leagues are going to be pissed this year.

Finally, for this year only, instead of the usual practice of having AL start one day then NL start the next day, they will have the 2/3 series in both leagues start first, because of travel.

Agreed. I miss watching Junior play, my favorite athlete of all time...

First spring training game starts in a half hour against the Rangers, on 610 AM, XM 178, and MLB.com. I don't think spring training games really merit a GDT, but I'll put up brief updates here during the game.

Gordon LF
Giavotella 2B
Hosmer 1B
Butler DH
Moustakas 3B
Francoeur RF
Perez C
Cain CF
Escobar SS

Mendoza P

O'Sullivan, Mazzaro, Adcock, Hottovy, Herrera and Verdugo are scheduled to pitch, but they might not all appear.

Rangers will start Colby Lewis.

I believe the MLB.com feed is free for ST games.

Out of curiosity, anyone remember how many games 610AM broadcast last year during ST? I want to say 1 or 2. Seems like I heard they are set to do 7 or 8 this year

Not sure, I locked up one of those lifetime XM memberships on my portable XM radio years ago while it was still available.

Damn that is a good looking lineup!

The baseball Gods have just informed me that the fate of our season will be determined by Gordon's first spring training AB today.

If Gordon gets an extra-base hit, the Royals will have at least the 2nd-best record in the entire AL.

If he gets a base hit, we'll win the AL Central.

If he walks, we'll be assured of at least a wild card but we'll have a close division race which we may or may not win.

If he is out but at least puts the ball in play, we will finish 2nd in the division but be in a close wild card race which we may or may not win.

If he strikes out, we're screwed and will be lucky to finish .500.

Ha, I was just about to post this. Sexy lookin' lineup.

Now if the pitching comes around...... :drool:

Well, at least it'll be a fun year.

edit: Gio walks. With our pitching this season, we're gonna need him to contribute with the bat, our offense will need to be F'ing awesome to overcome the runs we'll give up.

Home Run Butler, Royals up 2-zip.

From the sounds of it, that was apparently a monster home run. (edit: the MLB gameday guy put the red dot way, way past the left-center fence)

edit: Bloop single by Moose.

Nice play in center by Cain.

Mendoza pitched an 11-pitch 1-2-3 1st

Ridiculous. MLB audio feeds are not free for ST. They used to be in the past.

I have XM, but of course their online MLB feeds are not available. Stuck in the office today, so I guess MLB Gameday is the best I've got

Long fly out by Perez, followed by a line drive single in Cain's first spring AB. Escobar up.

Royals done in the 2nd.

Gordon just missed a 2-run home run in dead center. The wind is blowing out and even without the wind, the ball always carries anyway in the Arizona dry air.

In the Grapefruit League, Detroit is beating the crap out of the Braves, 11-zip in the 4th

Mendoza K's Beltre, then gets Michael Young on a grounder. That is encouraging so far, if he doesn't start out of spring, he could still be another solid piece in the bullpen.

Rangers done in the second after 25 pitches, Mendoza started to lose the strike zone, but pulled it together.

edit: Scott Feldman pitching for Texas.

Gio reaches on an E4

edit2: inning-ending double play from Butler

Vin Mazzaro now pitching.

Rangers done in the 3rd in 8 pitches, including a nifty 4-6-3 double play.

Added bonus: hilariously snarkey story from Denny about the Royals old, horrible spring training home in Florida.

edit: Royals done in the 4th 1-2-3 after 9 pitches

Sal perez. Bust.

Rangers done pretty quickly in the 4th. Single followed by 2 pretty good defensive plays. Escobar got the lead runner on a slow roller, then a double play ball hit to Mazzaro.

Typical. Trade his worthless ass!!3;lk1!

Michael Kirkman in for the Rangers.

5th inning, 2 runs, 3 hits for KC, 0 runs, 3 hits, and an error for the Rangers.

Cain leads off and doubles to center

Lorenzo Cain. Not a bust.

Gordon drops a bloop into left, Cain was running on contact and comes home.

3-0, Royals

It will be interesting to see what happens with Cain this year. Many of us wanted him to break with the team and start last year, and I have strong suspicions that Melky will return to his career norm this year.

Therefore, this could be a huge plus for us, not only with Cain's presence, but the return for the Melky trade.

Gio doubles to left, Gordon to third

Huge error up the middle by Kinsler (it should be an error anyway, if they score it a hit) 2 runs come home on a total whiff.

TV coverage?

I think kc will be one of those teams that really make you pay when you give them extra outs.

Butler singles, Hosmer gambles and reaches third.

Moose singles, Hosmer scores.

6-0, Royals. All runs are now earned.

Frenchy GDP's, Royals done in the 5th. Hosmer's gamble did end up getting them another run.

SOS now pitching for the Royals.

I think it is safe to say that Mendoza is probably getting the win today. (they waive the 5-inning requirement in spring)

Ahh, there's the SOS we all know and love.

Huge long solo homer from Moreland.

This just in, SOS still sucks.

and the Rangers are done in the 5th.

6 runs, 8 hits for the Royals
1 run, 4 hits, 2 errors for the Rangers.

Mass spring substitutions probably coming.

So far: Perez is done (Brayan Pena in for him), Cain is done (Mitch Maier in for him), and Escobar is done (Betancourt in for him)

Every single starter for the Rangers is done, except Michael Young, and he's probably done too since he's a DH.

Royals done in the 6th, capped by a swinging strikeout from Yuni. (sigh: welcome back)

This was wrong, guess I'm rusty. Obviously the guy who reached on an error was unearned.

Every single starter for the Royals is done.

If gio hits this year that lineup will be elite. I am cautiously optimistic, but can't help wishing there wasn't a gap between gordon and hosmer.

SOS managed to put away the Rangers scrubs 1-2-3 in 12 pitches

7th inning:

6 runs (1 unearned), 8 hits for the Royals
1 run, 4 hits, 2 errors for the Rangers.

Royals defeated the Rangers 6-1 during the 5 innings when the starters were all in.

Thanks for all these updates, they are much appreciated.
Posted via Mobile Device

Gordon: 1/3
Giavotella: 1/2, 1BB (1 double)
Hosmer: 0/3
Butler: 2/3, 1HR
Moustakas: 2/3
Francoeur: 0/3
Perez: 0/2
Cain: 2/2 (1 double)
Escobar: 0/2

None of the starters struck out today

Wil Myers just got an infield hit

Love reading game results. Opening day can't get here soon enough.

Royals done in the 7th with just singles by Clint Robinson and Wil Myers.

Adcock in for the Royals. He's probably now the only thing interesting in this game (aside from Myers if he gets another AB).

He was carried as a rule V last season, so he can be sent back down this season. Will there be room for him in KC this year?

7th inning done, Adcock puts down the Ranger scrubs in 14 pitches with a strikeout.

6 runs (1 unearned), 10 hits for the Royals
1 run, 4 hits, 2 errors for the Rangers

Detroit is beating the hell out of Atlanta, 18-1

Adcock just finished off the Ranger scrubs again, gave up 1 hit and got another strikeout.