Royals Sign Mientkiewicz, Grudzielanek to contracts

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Royals Sign Mientkiewicz, Grudzielanek

By Associated Press

2 hours ago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Free-agent infielders Mark Grudzielanek and Doug Mientkiewicz signed with the Kansas City Royals on Friday, joining the team that had the worst record in the majors last season.

The Royals also signed two other free agents, pitcher Scott Elarton and catcher Paul Bako.

Grudzielanek, a 35-year-old second baseman, batted .294 with eight home runs and 59 RBIs last season in helping St. Louis win the NL Central title.

Grudzielanek led all NL second basemen in fielding percentage (.990) and double plays turned (108). He is a career .287 hitter in 11 seasons.

Mientkiewicz hit .240 with 11 homers and 29 RBIs last year in 87 games with the New York Mets. His best season was in 2001, when he batted .306 and was a Gold Glove first baseman with Minnesota.

Elarton was 11-9 last year with Cleveland. The right-hander made a career-high 31 starts and had a 4.61 ERA.

Bako, a career .239 hitter over eight seasons, played in 13 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year before a knee injury May 26 ended his season.

Elarton got a two-year deal. Grudzielanek signed a one-year contract with an option for 2007, and Mientkiewicz and Bako got one-year contracts.

The Royals were 56-106 last season, setting a franchise record for losses. Every other team in the majors won at least 67 games.

[Bugg]

Felix Millian and Rocky Colavito, check your mailbox. The KC Royals are ready to throw money at you.

Does the KC front office use a dartboard or do they just randomly open the stat book and stick a finger into it and pick that guy? When we get told again for the 54,897th time how baseball needs a salary cap, please explain these moves- along with the Pirates any day of the week and the Tiggers signing Kenny Rogers. These teams don't suck because they have no money, but because they're run stupidly by morons.

By the same token, notice that the D-Rays now have a real front office. They may not challenge for the division, but they will be much improved now that Namioli and Lemarr have been sent packing for real management.

[AFJF]

Well in all reality Mientkiewicz instantly improves any teams infield and is a better hitter than his numbers last year showed. Getting him will save several throwing errors and take away plenty of hits. IMO he has no equal on defense.

Grudzy is vet who improves them a little bit. I mean, with the money KC has, this is probably as good as they could have done as far as improving their team without a lot of funds to do it with.

[mbn007]

Mark G. is a top flight inf. He has a super glove, decent range, and has played on turf a lot in his career. He is a solid contact hitter, who will not hurt you at bat. He and Doug (are these the 2 longest names in MLB??) will solidify that right side of the infield for AKC. And Mark G. is signed for around 4 million for 2006, with a player option for 2007.

Elarton is a lower echelon starting pitcher. Not great, not a rock, but when healthy, he is a decent #4 or #5. On KC though, he might need to be a #2, which is not his thing.

No comment on Bako. JAG.

All-in-all, not bad moves for KC. Sure makes more sense then last year, when they signed Juan Gonzalez. Now, that made no sense.