Craig already got to the Bloomquist signing earlier today, but I wanted to throw in my own bitter two cents.
I’ve been mulling this over for more than 7 hours – I was on the road most of the day and didn’t hear about the signing until about 4:00. This deal, like the Farnsworth one, doesn’t make any more sense no matter how much more I think it over.
The Royals already have a few backup middle infielders in Tony Pena Jr. and Esteban German. They already have backup outfielders in Mark Teahen and Mitch Maier. And they have a lifetime’s worth of grit and hustle in Ross Gload.
So what is the point, and why two years?
At this point, I’m not angry. This is a nonsensical signing but not crippling or rage-inducing like certain others this winter. $3 million over 2 years is more than Bloomquist – especially at age 31 – should make, but it’s not, by itself, going to harm the club too much.
How.EVER… Like previous moves this winter, we cannot view it and evaluate it fully by itself. As several people have pointed out already (that’s what I get for being away from the computer today), Kansas City has spent an incredible amount of money this winter on players who are essentially replacement level: Farns, H. Ramirez, Jacobs, and now Bloomquist. That’s $11.5 million for next year alone, plus the 2nd year salaries of Farns, Jacobs and Bloomquist in 2010.
The ability to spend more of Glass’ money is really cool, and I give Dayton Moore much praise for making that happen. But when you are the Kansas City Stinkin’ Royals, you can’t go wasting cash like that.
Bloomquist by himself is a baffling acquisition, but nothing to lose sleep over. Bloomquist on top of Mike Jacobs on top of Kyle Farnsworth on top of H. Ramirez, on the other hand…well, that’s a lot of straw, and the camel’s back is getting pretty tired.
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