Oswalt and Jackson together wouldn’t be enough to win the World Series, so are a waste of money at this time. A Zips projection I saw and linked last week had the Royals at 78 wins this year, 80 with Oswalt signed, so we can add three more with Jackson, maybe, as the two of them would displace Duffy and another starter, plus block Monty.

“How is this a plan?”

The Royals have a fairly low payroll ceiling due to market size. There is no other plan that allows the club to stay competitive for years, like Atlanta or Tampa. The alternative is boom and bust and losing free agents for no return of prospects. Milwaukee is an example of that this season, Detroit will be in a couple of years.

“And ya sure trade Gordon because Myers is there.”

Just a matter of return in trade, Gordon worth a lot more with a year of control than Frenchy in the second year of his contract. Gordon would return a good haul of prospects in trade, or he walks away for big money in a couple of years and we get nothing. This is the point where it ceases being a sports problem and becomes a business problem.

And it is probably being offered. I would guess the hold-up is on the no-trade clause. Alex wants four years in KC, GMDM wants the freedom to trade him after three to get some prospects in return before he leaves to go FA on a contract the Royals will be unwilling to match as Hosmer, Moose, and Duffy start ringing up big numbers in arbitration.

“Bringing 1 proven guy could’ve only helped this team”

About two wins over what we can expect from Duffy, not enough to retard Duffy’s development and waste $8 or $10 million on that will be needed down the road when Hoz hits arbitration.

“I would also guess the Royals will try to drive a hard bargain since Myers is close to ready – somebody in the outfield has to go at some point.”

True. Gordon brings the most in return of any of the OFs and is still under control for two years. Good point. I’ve been thinking Frenchy the odd man out if Myers does a Hoz on the PCL, but Alex would land a serious bunch of prospects if he’s on a tear in July.

“Mr. Kaufman tried to buy a championship with Mark Davis.” Really Jim??!!! I thought anything that happened before Dayton Moore doesn’t count in Royals history. Haven’t you preached that only the last 6 years (of losing) count? Going into the season with this rotation is borderline irresponsible. Bringing 1 proven guy could’ve only helped this team. Meche should have kept his money had he known it was gonna go right back into Wal-Mart.

This is where you can start having clubhouse issues with the different contract dollars players get. I would also guess the Royals will try to drive a hard bargin since Myers is close to ready – somebody in the outfield has to go at some point.

Good. Going “all in”, like Milwaukee did, was a confession of systemic failure, the Brewers lacked a viable replacement for Fielder. Detroit has an old owner, so is “all in” this year, like when Mr. Kaufman tried to buy a championship with Mark Davis. If the Process continues churning up players and developing prospects, we should never have to break the bank or trade the farm.