Well it looks as though bannister is the real deal. So how long untill the Royals trade him off or does he go the leth of his contract and head to one of the big spending teams?
Bannister was just traded here last year, and isn't even available for arbitration yet. We don't need to worry about signing him to a long term contract yet. As for him leaving to other teams, I think we will see a new trend being set by the Royals in the next few years - actually signing their good players to long term contracts. We have the GM we need, and hopefully the coach, and Mr. Glass is now willing to spend the money necessary to build a winning franchise. Heck, he should open his pockets- we're getting like $33 million a year for the next 10 years just from the Fox TV deal he signed. The days of letting everyone go and getting nothing in return are probably over.
The Royals have one of the lowest payrolls in the league at something inthe mid 50 mils. They will be able to sign alot of these younger guys to higher pays and still be below the league average when the time comes. The Glasses are very abel to spend that kind of money (100 mil a year) and a winning product just brings in more money. This also allows for pricier free agent acquisition too.
That's the key: getting fans into the seats. If the fans are there, there's more money available, and you can pay higher prices. No fans = no overpriced food being sold = no money for players. Simple math.
On the situation with Brian, once he becomes arbitration eligible, I'm fairly certain Moore and Glass will be willing to find the money to keep him. He's been nothing but consistency, and success since arriving.
This has to be the greatest fear among all Royals fans. Who will be the next superstar to leave? We have seen it so many times (Dye, Damon, Beltran, etc.) in the past that its hard to get excited about out great young players. In order to keep fans in the seats we the organization is going to need to show some commitment to keeping players. With Dayton Moore holding the rains, hopefully we will have a chance to see these players develop into the stars they can be.
I am very optimistic that the Royals with Dayton Moore will be able to sign most of these young players like Brian Bannister. It just depends on if the Glass family wants to win or not. Dayton Moore and Trey Hillman have a winning attitude and it is showing on the field right now. Brian Bannister, Zach Greinke, and Joakim Soria are some of the best pitches in the league right now, and the Glass family would be stupid to not sign them in the future. Go Royals!
If Gordon, Greinke, Butler, Bannister and Soria continue to develop into the type of players we as Royals fans hope they can be it might be difficulte for KC to sign all of them but the organization is better equipped now to re-sign young players than is has been since Mr and Mrs K were running things.
I think the Royals need to consider following the lead of the Indians with Cormona and Rays with Longoria and identify who they think are long term answers and pre-empt arbitration. Of course we are gunshy as fans here because the Berroa and Sweeney signings didn't pan out as hoped but you have to be willing to get back in the box and take another swing.. no pun intended.
The good thing is that we are moving in the right direction. Moore's first priority was to fill the minor league system with talent and he is accomplishing that with live, young arms. Our system was nearly empty on talent at every level now we haev good young players on just about every level starting with the majors. I think the Royals' time will come and we can enjoy some meaningful baseball in September and October in the years to come.
