There Was a Mini Royals Reunion at Johnny Giavotella S Wedding

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January 3, 2018 Teaford wrote: “Mini Royals reunion. Congrats big John!” LOCAL (click link for photos) There was a ‘mini Royals reunion’ at NATIONAL Johnny Giavotella’s wedding January 2, 2018 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star MLB's cold-hearted economics chill http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for- petes-sake/article192522549.html the hot stove, puts the freeze on elite players January 2, 2018 By Bob Nightengale/USA Today NATIONAL https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob- nightengale/2018/01/02/mlb-hot-stove-free-agents-luxury- MLB's cold-hearted economics chill tax/995440001/ the hot stove, puts the freeze on elite It’s 2018, and while everyone is eagerly wishing their family players and friends happiness, health and prosperity, is it too much to January 2, 2018 By Bob Nightengale/USA Today ask to put an end to baseball’s dullest off-season in nearly 25 https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob- years? nightengale/2018/01/02/mlb-hot-stove-free-agents-luxury- tax/995440001/ We haven’t had a more boring and dreary off-season since Eric Hosmer offered seven-year, $147 the 1994-1995 work stoppage. million deal to return to Royals It has been 62 days since the Houston Astros won their first January 3, 2018 By Bob Nightengale/USA Today World Series championship in a seven-game thriller over the https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2018/01/03/eric- Los Angeles Dodgers, and the only real drama we’ve seen is hosmer-offered-seven-year-147-million-deal-return- Shohei Ohtani signing with the Los Angeles Angels and royals/998796001/ Giancarlo Stanton traded to the New York Yankees.

MLB TRANSACTIONS The hot stove market, with 136 free agents still unemployed, January 3, 2018 •.CBSSports.com barely has the flicker of a pilot light. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions Just nine position players have signed major-league contracts this winter, and only two players - first baseman Carlos LOCAL Santana (three-year, $60 million) with the Philadelphia Phillies) and All-Star closer Wade Davis (three-year, $52 There was a ‘mini Royals reunion’ at million) with the Colorado Rockies - have received contracts Johnny Giavotella’s wedding in excess of $50 million. January 2, 2018 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star Sure, that will end sometime before the start of the season. http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for- All-Star first baseman Eric Hosmer has a seven-year offer petes-sake/article192522549.html from the San Diego Padres, which would make him the highest-paid player in franchise history. Outfielder J.D. When you think about the players who came up in the Royals Martinez has a five-year offerfrom the Boston Red Sox. Yet, minor-league system and eventually won two American neither have signed a contract. League pennants and the 2015 World Series, certain names spring to mind. The top two starting pitchers, Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta, have been wined and dined, but still haven’t found a team Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Salvador Perez and Jarrod willing to meet that six- or seven-year asking price. Dyson are just a few of the players who were key parts of the Royals success. Why, of the top 10 free agents - including five represented by Scott Boras - only Davis has signed. But for those who made it to the major leagues, there were many more who never got out of the minor leagues. Others It’s been that ugly of a winter. were traded before the Royals won the World Series. Many of those players who didn’t get a ring are still friends with The Baltimore Orioles did their best to liven the party by Hosmer, Dyson and the rest. dangling third baseman/shortstop Manny Machado two weeks ago, but even with the White Sox and Cubs in strong And some got together on New Year’s Eve to celebrate with pursuit, GM Dan Duquette has yet to see a tempting offer. former Royals second baseman Johnny Giavotella, who was married in New Orleans. Derek Jeter, scorched by a town-hall meeting in which the Marlins fans conveyed their contempt, is now letting teams Here is a tweet from former Royals pitcher Everett Teaford, know that they are open for business on everyone, including and it includes Hosmer, Dyson, Giavotella, Aaron Crow and disgruntled outfielder Christian Yelich and catcher J.T. Anthony Seratelli, who was in the Royals’ minor-league Realmuto. Still, there’s a better chance of Jeffrey Loria system from 2006-13. Derrick Robinson, who was a Royals’ returning as owner than Jeter being overwhelmed by trade minor-leaguer from 2006-12, also is in the photo. proposals for either player this late in the winter. There are only 42 days left before pitchers and catchers We’ve got only a few precious weeks to spice up this dull report to spring training, so logic tells us that we should have winter. a wild frenzy these next six weeks. Please, for all 30 teams, can we make it a New Year’s Then again, we thought the same when Ohtani and Stanton resolution to turn on that hot stove burner once and for all? found homes, only for the free-agent market to remain as dormant as the Cleveland Browns’ Super Bowl parade route. It’s beyond time. Eric Hosmer offered seven-year, $147 It’s time for the stare-down contest to end, with everyone coming to realization that the days of George Steinbrenner, million deal to return to Royals Gene Autry and Mike Ilitch providing blank checks to every January 3, 2018 By Bob Nightengale/USA Today free agent who might give them a chance for a championship https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2018/01/03/eric- are over. hosmer-offered-seven-year-147-million-deal-return- royals/998796001/ This is a new era in baseball run with teams run by Ivy League graduates, employing more folks in their analytic Eric Hosmer, coveted all winter by the San Diego Padres, departments than veteran baseball scouts, refusing to let their now has another surprising small-market team going head-to- heart short-circuit their brain power. head for his services.

No one wants to be stuck in position like the Los Angeles Yes, his old team. Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, who swung a blockbuster trade on the surface with the likes of former All-Stars Adrian The Kansas City Royals have offered Hosmer a franchise- Gonzalez and Matt Kemp, but in reality was only baseball’s record seven-year, $147 million contract, persons close to version of money-laundering of bad contracts. Hosmer told USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity since negotiations are still undergoing. The game has never been more vibrant financially, but with a luxury tax in place that functions more like a salary cap, Hosmer also has a seven-year, $140 million offer from the teams are being much more cautious. Padres, people close to Hosmer say, which is $1 million less a year than the Royals’ deal. It’s actually a miserable time to be a marquee free agent considering the big boys, the New York Yankees, Dodgers The length of the proposals were confirmed by high-ranking and Boston Red Sox, refuse to partake in the free-agent party. members of the Padres and Royals, but they declined to They’ve spent a grand total of $25 million this winter. divulge the total guarantee, or whether opt-out provisions or buyouts are in the offers. Oh sure, the Chicago Cubs still need a front-line starter, and would be willing to bring back Arrieta on a four-year deal for Hosmer is seeking at least an eight-year or nine-year deal, but about $110 million, but sorry, they refuse to dish out a six- it’s unknown whether either team will increase their offer to year deal. The Red Sox won’t give Martinez a seven-year, meet Hosmer’s request. $210 million contract, and aren’t about to start bidding against themselves. The Yankees swear up and down they Jason Heyward received an eight-year, $184 million contract won’t go above the $197 million luxury tax in 2018, and will two years ago from the Chicago Cubs, and the New York wait out the Pittsburgh Pirates for ace Gerrit Cole instead of Yankees signed outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury to a seven-year, spending big money in free agency. And the Dodgers, who $153 million four years ago, and the Baltimore Orioles had a $244 million payroll last year, haven’t signed a signed Chris Davis to a seven-year, $161 million contract in marquee free agent outside their organization since Andrew January 2016. Friedman came into office. Hosmer, 28, is coming off a career year. He hit .318 with 25 A year from now, all bets are off. homers and 94 RBI with a career-best .385 on-base percentage, and has hit at least 25 homers with 90 or more We should be graced with the greatest free-agent bonanza in RBI the past two years. baseball history with Bryce Harper and Machado hitting the market, as well as Clayton Kershaw, Dallas Keuchel, Josh The Royals and Padres also are placing great value on Donaldson, Craig Kimbrel, Zach Britton, Adam Jones and AJ Hosmer’s leadership skills and his value in the community. Pollock. He became their most popular player among the fan base as the Royals won consecutive AL pennants in 2014-15 and, in Yet, that’s 10 months from now when dollar signs will be 2015, their first World Series title since 1985. lighting up the skies. No free agent has yet received more than Carlos Santana’s For now, it’s time to take care of business. Free-agent closer three-year, $60 million contract with the Philadelphia Greg Holland and the St. Louis Cardinals seem like a natural Phillies. It’s quite possible Hosmer may wind up the highest- fit. Free-agent outfielder Jay Bruce’s power will play nicely paid player this entire winter. in San Francisco. The Yankees need Cole if they want to take advantage of Stanton and Aaron Judge’s power. Outfielders Who would ever have imagined his old team could be the Andrew McCutchen, Billy Hamilton, Jacoby Ellsbury and ones willing to pay the most? Shin-Soo Choo will be in trade talks. And you just know that MLB TRANSACTIONS Los Angeles Angels GM Billy Eppler, who has improved his January 3, 2018 •.CBSSports.com team more than anyone this winter, has something up his http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions sleeve. TEAM PLAYER TRANSACTION Cincinnati Phil Signed to a Minor League Reds Gosselin Contract

Traded From from Brewers, Los Angeles Dylan Baker Milwaukee (for future Dodgers considerations)

Milwaukee Ivan De Signed to a Minor League Brewers Jesus Contract

Philadelphia Signed to a Minor League Steven Geltz Phillies Contract