I'm going to keep the intro short because I know me, and I know I can't be civil when it comes to terrible Royals decisions. So here are some Royals updates, and a soul-crushing, heart-stomping realization that GM Dayton Moore still doesn't get it -- or he DOES get it...and doesn't care:
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Royals pick up lefty reliever Jose Mijares - KansasCity.com
"The Royals crossed another item off their offseason checklist on Wednesday, signing left-handed reliever Jose Mijares to a one-year deal worth $925,000. The announcement came just one day after the club spent $2 million to re-acquire veteran infielder Yuniesky Betancourt to fill a utility role. And with the 40-man roster now full, it could potentially be the last significant addition of the offseason." -
The complicated existence of Yuniesky Betancourt | Don't Kill the Mellinger
A good writer, Mellinger, makes a terrible argument that the Betancourt signing isn't a horrible signing for the Royals -- completely missing the fact that Yuni makes the team worse simply by being on the roster (because of negative value). Can't win 'em all, Sam. This one really isn't defensible.
- Kansas City Royals Sign Yuniesky Betancourt - MLB Daily Dish
The Kansas City Royals have announced that they have signed short stop Yuniesky Betancourt. Betancourt was a former Royal, and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers along with Zack Greinke last season... - Two more thoughts on the Betancourt signing | The Star's Blog on the Royals and Baseball
Another KC Star writer misses the point that Betancourt is patently (and provably) worse than the average replacement middle infielder (essentially any player a team might reasonably call up to spell a shortstop or second baseman). There's literally nothing to defend and yet they insist. There's no magical strategy. No defense. It's just bad baseball. Royals fans have every right to be pissed, and they should be -- even on the small stuff. - Royals Rumors: KC Had Interest in Mat Latos, Gio Gonzalez - MLB Daily Dish
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Royals had interest in Mat Latos before he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. Rosenthal also reports that Kansas City likes Oakland Athletics LHP Gio Gonzalez, but does not wish to part with Wil Myers or Mike Montgomery in order to acquire a starter. -
From Tragedy to Farce: The Return of Yuni | FanGraphs Baseball
"This Betancourt deal is a bad decision that reflects poorly on Moore. However, the Royals current front office is far from the only one to make these sorts of baffling decisions, and many of those who have done so and continue to do so have found a decent amount of success. This deal is discouraging, but even if Betancourt’s return is a farcical recapitulation of the worst of the Dayton Moore Era, it does not mean the Royals under his leadership are doomed."