Inside Pitch: Kansas City Royals

RC's Inside Pitch today takes a look at the current arbitration situation, notes and quotes from the last week, and the free agent decisions facing the Royals this offseason. Who will the Royals bring back for 2007? Scout.com takes a look inside.

The Royals are going to have to pay up.

Kansas City has five players eligible for arbitration this offseason, including left-hander Jimmy Gobble, who qualified as a "super-two."

Super-two players are the top one-sixth in terms among service time among those who have played two-plus big-league seasons.

Other Royals eligible for arbitration are right-handed pitchers Brandon Duckworth, Runelvys Hernandez and Todd Wellemeyer and outfielder Emil Brown. All should receive significant pay raises from 2006 if the Royals opt to tender them contracts.

Hernandez was a huge disappointment last season after arriving at spring training at a reported 285 pounds. He began the season in the minors, and in 21 starts with Kansas City was 6-10 with a 6.48 ERA. Opponents hit .327 off him with 22 home runs. Hernandez made $1,225,000 in 2006, the first year he was eligible for arbitration. If the Royals do tender Hernandez a contract by the Dec. 20 deadline, his salary could double next year in arbitration. His condition is always a concern as the Royals do not know if he will report again vastly overweight and out of shape.

Brown won his arbitration hearing before spring training and made $1,775,000 million last season. His salary could jump to $3.5 million to $4 million after hitting .287 and leading the team with 41 doubles and 81 RBIs.

Duckworth is eligible for the first time. He was 1-5 with a 6.11 ERA in 10 games, including eight starts, before needing elbow surgery to remove chips.

Wellemeyer, too, is arbitration-eligible for the first time after going 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 28 relief appearances.

Gobble, who made $345,500 last season, was 4-6 with a 5.14 ERA in 60 games, including six starts. Gobble, whom the Royals view as a reliever, likely would make around $1 million in arbitration.

NOTES, QUOTES

The Royals are retaining their entire coaching staff for the 2007 season, although first base coach Brian Poldberg and third base coach Luis Silverio are switching. "This will give Luis a little more freedom to work with the outfielders," manager Buddy Bell said. The other coaches returning are bench coach Billy Doran, pitching coach Bob McClure, bullpen coach Fred Kendall and hitting coach Mike Barnett.

Manager Buddy Bell, who had surgery to remove a cancerous growth near his left tonsil on Sept. 22, is feeling well enough to attend Arizona Fall League games. Bell lives in Chandler, Ariz., a Phoenix suburb.

RHP Mike Wood, who was 3-3 with a 5.71 ERA in 23 games, including seven starts, was claimed off waivers by the Rangers. Wood was one of the three players the Royals received in the Carlos Beltran trade.

RHP Adam Bernero, who was 1-0 with a 1,.38 ERA in three games, including two starts, has opted for free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Omaha.

The Royals claimed RHP Ken Ray off waivers from the Braves. Ray was 1-1 with five saves and a 4.52 ERA in 69 relief appearances. He walked 38 and struck out 50 in 67 2/3 innings. Ray was an 18th-round pick of the Royals in 1993 and made his big-league debut in 1999 with Kansas City.

BY THE NUMBERS: .259 -- SS Angel Berroa's on-base percentage in 2006.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think I turned the corner about a week ago. My endurance is still not where I need it, but it's getting better." -- Royals manager Buddy Bell speaking in mid-October. Bell had surgery on Sept. 22 to remove a malignant growth near his left tonsil.

ROSTER REPORT

The Royals enter the offseason looking for starting pitchers, possibly as many as three. They have a surplus of outfielders and outfield prospects in the high minors that could be used as trade bait.

BIGGEST NEEDS: The Royals have to deal with improving the pitching staff from top to bottom. The Royals' 5.65 team ERA was the worst in franchise history. If the Royals start next year with Odalis Perez as their Opening Day starter, they could be in for another long season. The bullpen, which blew 30 saves in 65 opportunities, also needs some attention.

FREE AGENTS: LHP Mark Redman, 1B Doug Mientkiewicz, C Paul Bako.

The Royals would like to have Redman back after he led the team with 11 victories, but he could be priced out of their market. It will depend on how the bidding goes for Redman, who was their lone All-Star Game representative. After picking up 1B Ryan Shealy in a July 31 trade with the Rockies, the Royals no longer have a need for Mientkiewicz. If Bako returns, it will be at the Royals' price. They might look for a better backup catcher.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: OF Emil Brown, RHP Runelvys Hernandez, RHP Todd Wellemeyer, RHP Brandon Duckworth, RHP Mike Wood (possible Super-2), LHP Jimmy Gobble (possible Super-2).

Brown, who put up decent offensive numbers for the second consecutive year, could receive a hefty raise, It will be interesting to see what the Royals do with Hernandez, who reported to spring training at 285 pounds and was not in shape to start the season in the majors. The Royals likely will not tender Duckworth but figure to try to sign him to a minor league contract with an invitation to camp.

IN LIMBO: High-priced veterans OF Reggie Sanders and DH Mike Sweeney could be trade bait, but both are coming off an injury-riddled 2006 season, so dealing either will be difficult. With the Royals having an excess of outfielders, Brown could be shopped for a pitching prospect.

PROSPECT WATCH: Double-A 3B Alex Gordon, the second overall selection in the 2005 draft out of Nebraska, was the 2006 Minor League Player of the Year. The Royals will likely make room for Gordon in 2007, at some point during the season if not by Opening Day. RHP Luke Hochevar was the first pick in the 2006 draft and was scheduled to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. With the Royals' pitching paucity, Hochevar could arrive in a hurry. OF Billy Butler, who led the Texas League with a .331 average, will likely open the season with Triple-A Omaha. Butler has hit wherever he has played but needs to improve his defense.

MEDICAL WATCH:

3B Mark Teahen (shoulder surgery) is expected to be ready by spring training.

INF Andres Blanco (shoulder surgery) is expected to ready at the end of spring training.

RHP Scott Elarton (shoulder surgery) will probably not return to the big-league rotation before June 1.

OF Reggie Sanders (surgery) should be ready at start of spring training.

RHP Brandon Duckworth (elbow surgery to remove bone fragments) should be ready at start of spring training.