Ian Kennedy to the Royals - 5 years $70M

[David]

Down with megathreads

https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/688351171023470592


Seems like a lot after the year he just had

[Thurman Merman]

Pretty surprised by the amount of money he got. I feel like I remember talk this past season of potentially being able to give up nothing in a trade for him.

[David]

Pretty surprised by the amount of money he got. I feel like I remember talk this past season of potentially being able to give up nothing in a trade for him.

amount and years...he's 31 and just had a pretty big turd of a season. bizarre.

[TomtheBombadil]

Things I like about this deal for the Royals:

- He gained a MPH on his four seam. Career average is 91.3 MPH, 2015 average was 92.3. Hurray for a healthy arm!

- His curveball and cutter both made giant leaps as far as drawing swings and misses. Like 3-4% a piece....

- No major surgeries! Health is so underrated until it's gone. No major surgeries plus increased velocity? Kennedy, you dog!

- He's a flyball pitcher and will move from a terrible defensive OF to arguably the best one in baseball.

[David]

https://twitter.com/jazayerli/status/688374477126676484

https://twitter.com/jazayerli/status/688374867415060480

[toonsterwu]

I actually think you Ian Kennedy will be a decent pitcher ... but this many years and this much money for Ian Kennedy.

[TomtheBombadil]

https://twitter.com/jazayerli/status/688374477126676484

How does that one work? How much does a trip to Imaginationland cost and is it included?

[David]

I think throwing in the opt outs to seal the deal with really good players is fine. No problem at all with it (even though the arguments that there is any upside in it for the team are wrong - at least, in the absence of a severe miscalculation by the player of his own value).

Throwing it in on a guy who is basically a bounce-back candidate seems like a horrific idea

[David]

https://twitter.com/jazayerli/status/688374477126676484

How does that one work? How much does a trip to Imaginationland cost and is it included?

If you use bWAR, it's *almost* true.

[TomtheBombadil]

https://twitter.com/jazayerli/status/688374477126676484

How does that one work? How much does a trip to Imaginationland cost and is it included?

If you use bWAR, it's *almost* true.

I'm lost on this. Zimmerman signed for 22 million a year and Kennedy signed for 14 a year. I like this deal better than Zimmermann's - it's basically a cheaper per year Lackey deal given to a younger pitcher, which explains three years after the opt out. Keep in mind that Zimmermann lost a MPH and had TJ surgery last decade while Kennedy gained a MPH and didn't have a major surgery.

[David]

https://twitter.com/jazayerli/status/688374477126676484

How does that one work? How much does a trip to Imaginationland cost and is it included?

If you use bWAR, it's *almost* true.

I'm lost on this. Zimmerman signed for 22 million a year and Kennedy signed for 14 a year.

I thought you were talking about the below replacement Tweet.

Did you miss the part where he includes the money spent on Soria? 14 + 8 = 22

[TomtheBombadil]

I did miss that part, but still like what the Royals did. Not a big FA Zimmermann fan.

[Tim]

I did miss that part, but still like what the Royals did. Not a big FA Zimmermann fan.

I wasn't a fan of Zimmerman, either. And I liked Kennedy as a stealth candidate on a short deal for him to improve his results and re-enter FA.

I wouldn't go near 5/$70 for him, though.

[TomtheBombadil]

I wasn't a fan of Zimmerman, either. And I liked Kennedy as a stealth candidate on a short deal for him to improve his results and re-enter FA.

I wouldn't go near 5/$70 for him, though.

I wouldn't either - not the right time for the Cubs to give out that kind of contract to that kind of pitcher, should be able to shop in a better store anyway, and the Cubs don't have the Royals' OF defense or home park. Those two are key to why, on paper if not in our hearts, Kennedy will end up being a pretty sweet sign by the Royals.

You know what would be cool? A Royals version of MoneyBall, The Extra 2%, and/or Big Data Baseball. I suspect that book would be bit redundant from the other three, but still...