KC Royals: Dayton Moore Still Looking For Bullpen Help

KC Royals general manager Dayton Moore is still scouring the bargain bin looking for bullpen help, according to MLB Trade Rumors.com. The Kansas City Royals are still thought to be interested in reliever Phil Coke, whom the team watched throw a few weeks back, along with Alfredo Aceves.

On February 19, Kansas City Star reporter Andy McCullough tweeted:

Still in the market for bullpen depth, the Royals have had scouts at recent workouts for Alfredo Aceves and Phil Coke.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) February 19, 2015

Royals rumors suggest Coke is holding out for a major-league deal, while Aceves can be had for a minor-league contract.

The above tweet came the day before the KC Royals added Franklin Morales on a minor league contract on February 20, but the Dayton Moore could still be in the market for additional help.

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Apparently, Dayton Moore isn’t satisfied with his bullpen depth, despite most pundits rating the Kansas City Royals pen the best in Major League baseball coming into the 2015 season. The Royals have two, or maybe three, bullpen jobs available behind Greg Holland, Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera, Luke Hochevar, and Jason Frasor.

The number of open jobs depends on whether the KC Royals front office decides on 13 man pen instead of the more typical 12 they have carried the last few seasons.

The Candidates:

Tim Collins—Collins has been with the club for four years (since 2011), after coming over from the Braves in a 2010 trade. Tiny Tim was a useful piece in the KC Royals pen his first three seasons, but struggled early last season.

Collins was sent down to AAA, and only pitched 21.0 innings in Kansas City last season for a mediocre 3.86 ERA. While Collins is a lefty, he has a career reverse platoon split. He’s actually more effective against right handed hitters so isn’t a candidate to be the staff LOOGY.

Joe Blanton—Royals manager Ned Yost recently indicated that the team is exclusively looking at Blanton as a bullpen option. He told MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan:

"“The only way he is really going to help us is in the bullpen,” Yost said. “We’re not going to stretch him out [to be a starter].”"

Jandel Gustave—this 22-year-old rule 5 pick from the Houston Astros this winter sports a fastball that touches 100mph. Gustave, however has not pitched above High A. He did, however, post an impressive 0.78 ERA after getting converted to the pen late last season (in only 16.2 IP).

If Gustave impresses in camp, he might force the team to carry 13 pitchers. As a rule 5 pick, Gustave must be kept on the major league roster or the Kansas City Royals must offer him back to the Astros for $50,000.

Joe Paterson—this 28-year-old lefty has a funky delivery and is in camp on a minor-league deal. He started in the Giants organization, but has pitched in the majors the last four seasons after moving over to the Diamondbacks.

Paterson was a lefty specialist in 2011 for Arizona, pitching in 62 games for only 34.1 innings pitched though he had an impressive 2.91 ERA in that limited role. He has only pitched 6.1 major league innings since, spread over 2012 to 2014.

Paterson is something of a dark horse to make the roster, but could stick as a LOOGY.

Louis Coleman—the 28-year-old Coleman is a former 5th round pick of the Royals in 2009 and has been a mostly-effective reliever for the Royals over the last four seasons with a career 3.25 ERA in 174.1 innings pitched.

However, the right-handed Coleman had a tough 2014 season in which he posted a high 5.56 ERA and lost the confidence of manager Ned Yost. Though Coleman is out of options, he is likely to get cut if he struggles in camp.

Ryan Madson—the 34-year-old former Phillies closer has looked good this spring (I’ve seen him myself in Surprise). However, Madson has not pitched in the major-leagues since 2011, when he racked up 32 saves and a 2.32 ERA as the closer in Philadelphia.

Madson had Tommy John surgery in 2012, and has only pitched 1.0 inning in High A since. If he’s even 80% of his former self, he could be a big help for the Royals—but I’m not holding my breath.

Franklin Morales—Morales is another LOGGY candidate. The KC Royals signed the 29-year-old Morales February 20. While his career ERA+ is a mediocre 94 (6% below league average), Morales has been tough on lefties his entire career, sporting a .213/.296/.328 triple slash against them.

Buddy Baumann—the 27-year-old Bauman has been a lefty workhorse in AA and AAA the last few seasons. He could make the roster as a LOOGY, if none of the other candidates impress.

Some people have listed 2014 playoff boy wonder Brandon Finnegan as a bullpen candidate, but it’s clear the team wants to develop him as a starter in the minors this season. I don’t see him playing a role in Kansas City unless he’s a September call-up, or the team has a real bullpen emergency.

Kris Medlen could also see bullpen work in 2015, but the KC Royals say he won’t be ready for live action until June as a guy coming back from his second Tommy John surgery. Look for him to be a 2nd half guy if everything goes well with his recovery—but he could pitch in the rotation.

Mike Mariot logged 25.0 innings in Kansas City last year, but had an awful 6.48 ERA. He might get some consideration, but seems ticketed for AAA again this season.

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