clubhouse guy who stencils uniforms needs a raise

I agree David. In a sense, it's nice that management isn't going to throw yet another 100-loss team at the fans, but these signings seem pretty silly to me. These guys will make the team marginally better, but the Royals still have very bad starting pitching and no power, even after all these additions. And adding Jacque Jones isn't goint to fix that.

Here's something that makes Royals fans pretty mad: we never sign our own players, but we love signing old vets that aren't any good anymore for pretty much the same price. And I'm not talking about our stars (Damon, Dye, Beltran), I'm talking about solid but not great players.

Two years ago we decided Joe Randa was too expensive (!). Three years ago we decided that Raul Ibanez wasn't worth a three year deal. But then we have no problem bringing in guys like Mientkiewicz, Marrero, Grudzielanek, Redman, Elarton, etc. every year to fill those holes.

It makes no sense. We always have about 5 holes to fill on offense and we never have any pitchers. But we spend what little money we spend on old mediocre or worse players.

It looks to me like Glass told Allard to raise payroll to $50m come hell or highwater so he can get the stadium vote passed. I think that these moves will go over pretty well in KC (at least it looks like we're trying), but this is still a 90-loss team. I wish we'd save that money to get some good players when we might have a shot at the division in 2008 or so.

Mientkiewcz is an outstanding defender that'll save the Royal's young left side of the infield 20 errors in 2006.

They also picked up Paul Bako to give John Buck some direction.

I like these signings, not because of what value they will bring to the team on the field, but it shows that the royals are actually interested in signing players. These moves might not be well now, but maybe in 2 or 3 years you see the royals trying to sign guys for big money deals for the roays ( 4 years, 30 mil.) These moves might give royal fans some hope for the next few years, not because of the quality players, but because some money is being spent, somewhat well. I mean they haven't overpaid for anyone.

Theses are horrendous signings.

This team is still slated for a 100 losses. Exactly what can Grudz, Mientky, Elarton and Bako do that a AAAA can't?

Additional evidence that the Royals front office has no idea how to develop a young team into an eventual contending team. Grudzy takes at-bats and experience away from Gotay or another prospect. Manichevitz just hurts the development of Huber, while the Royals have plenty of young pitchers that should be on the staff now getting experience instead of Redman & Elarton (and Lima of 2005).

Unless, they plan to use these guys for part of the season and trade them for prospects during the year.

That would actually be smart - especially since they wasted a large portion of their entire 2005 AAA roster on non-prospect veterans with no upside (Pickering, Adrian Brown, Guiel, Truby, Diaz, Hocking, Harvey).

Oh, KC. Terrible...they mean nothing, except, as John says, they block whatever youth KC may have to bring up. Like treading water while holding a medicine ball.

will trade them all anyway next season

Ugh. Awful. Worse than awful, they're largely meaningless. These are not the type of signing that are going to turn a 100 loss team around.

Minky may save runs with his defense, but he gives them right back with his impotent offense. Having a defensive replacement 1B is a luxury that 100 loss teams can't and don't need.

Scott Elarton is rotation filler. He's not interesting or particularly good, but he's not awful. Depending on terms it's not a horrible signing, but it's not a signing that says "Look out AL Central" either.

As noted by others above Grudzielank is just stealing at-bats from youngsters with potential and not really offering any meaningful upside.

Paul Bako is a backup catcher. Whatever. As long as he's not taking meaningful playing time away from Buck it's no big deal.

Clearly the charge to 70 wins has begun.

If only they could change their name to the Kansas City A's. Then we wouldn't have to associate them with the team Brett, White, Otis and McRae played for during the 70's and 80's.

The Royals have major league ready prospects. Gotay doesn't really project as a regular big leaguer, and neither Billy Butler and Juston Huber are ready for full time duty at first.

They're all 1-yr deals (except Elarton) and chances are they'll be dealt at the deadline. I like the signings.

These guys are not desirable as trade bait in July.

If the Royals wanted those type of players, they should have signed Randa and Encarnacion.

I have to agree with Rotomusings - it's unlikely any other team will want Manichevitz or Elarton. I could see some interest in Grudzy at the deadline, and even more for Sweeney, Stairs, and Emil Brown. So hopefully they're stockpiling these great warm bodies so they can get some prospects at some point later.

But knowing the Royals, I doubt it. Like Hippster said, if the Royals B-list free agents were too expensive, why turn around and sign others' C-list free agents?