Gil Isn't Just Pitching Stupid

by Jeff Sullivan on Dec 7, 2006 7:57 AM PST in Seattle Mariners News, Regular

ORLANDO, Fla. - In a winter meetings stunner, free agent right-hander Gil Meche is close to signing with the Royals, FOXSports.com has learned.

The deal is for 4 years and $45 million, according to MLB source. Both the Cubs and Blue Jays offered Meche deals for 4 years and $40 million, sources said.

Some career move. It's hard to blame Gil for chasing every last penny he could get - it's not like bank robbers ever demonstrate a sense of moderation - but at least the Cubs and Blue Jays have an outside shot of winning something in the next few years. Given their awesome division, the Royals, in the slightly modified words of my favorite hockey blogger, are "the fat friend that rolls with the four 10s Saturday night at the bar." If Seattle's window of opportunity is slim, Kansas City's doesn't exist, which makes me think Gil is taking this contract for entirely selfish reasons. Where else could he masquerade as a staff ace? It worked for Mark Redman.

I thought Dayton Moore was supposed to be smart.

Update: holy crap, FIVE years? Gil's agent is about to get a ton of new client applications.

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Ha!

Now I can take jabs at all the KC fans around me....If I can somehow keep the Ramirez deal a secret.

Gil might do well in KC. It is a low pressure situation. No one expects them to win. I think even Gil's fragile mental state can hold up to this. He gets filthy rich and doesn't have to do anything annoying...like win.

by anotherjeff on Dec 7, 2006 8:19 AM PST reply actions

yeesh

boy, when you're KC and you have a limited budget - I just can't imagine how disappointed they're going to be in this contract and this mediocre arm. I hope Meche is ready to pitch through all of his dead arm phases - KC isn't known for coddling their pitchers.

by OlyOle on Dec 7, 2006 9:38 AM PST reply actions

Jinkies Scoob..

45 million for Meche...fourty five million...100 thousand times 450...

For Meche.

Thats 20,454,545 gallons of gas at 2.20 a gallon...

For Meche.

Seriously. Have these last two days been some sort of Joke. Is Bud Selig gonna pop out and go "Ha Ha...Just kidding. The real winter meetings start today".

by Ben in Va on Dec 7, 2006 9:46 AM PST reply actions

LookoutLanding owes Royals Review...

a HUGE apology. Jeff, please forward your "Anticipate Delays" graphic to RR. They're gonna need it! Can you imagine what Meche's motivation factor is going to be now that he has "got his?"

I also read somewhere in passing that the deal might be for 5 years, not just 4. And the poor people at the Royals team forum are excited about scoring such a "great young pitcher with tremendous upside who has been compared to a young Jason Schmidt."

by kva15 on Dec 7, 2006 10:00 AM PST reply actions