Looking Back/Looking Forward – Designated Hitter

The DH-spot is normally reserved for old, power hitters.  In Kansas City, it’s been reserved for a variety of ages that have all shared one thing in common – they have no power.   Since 2006, the franchise has received a total – a total! – of 46 homers from the players that manned the designated hitter spot most often each year.  Mike Jacobs was a disappointment in 2009 and that let-down has the team once again on the lookout for outside help …

2009 - Kansas City did make an effort to improve this position coming into 2009.  But, from the beginning there was big debate among followers as to whether or not they made the right selection.  Jacobs was added via a trade with Florida and was expected to pay off with close to 30 round-tripper’s, 90 RBIs, a .500 slugging percentage, and a batting average of .250.

Here’s what they got – 19 homers, 61 RBIs, a .401 slugging percentage, and a batting average of .228.  No doubt about it – it was a gigantic failure.  And, yes, he batted in the heart of the order all season.

Because of injuries elsewhere, the Royals never gave a shot to the likes of Willie Bloomquist or Mark Teahen.  Instead, they handed four-fifths of their starts to Jacobs.

Money Ball - A reasonable suggestion calls for Dayton Moore to non-tender Jacobs.  He made $3.3 million in 2009 and he didn’t even live up to that price.  And, remember, at the time, that tag was considered a bargain.  Even if the Royals failed to add another hitter via trade or free agency, the team would be better served giving these ABs to other players.

Statistically Speaking - Jacobs left the yard just five times in his final 158 at-bat’s.  That works out to one homer every 32 at-bat’s. The average American League hitter launched a home run every 31 at-bat’s last year.

2010 – If the team is realistic about expectations, the future, and if they are willing to admit a mistake, they will non-tender Jacobs this off season.  If they do stick with the 29-year old for another season, he will be given another 130-135 starts as the DH.

If Jacobs is out of the picture, the team will do one of two things: 1. Add a bat from the outside or, 2. Place Jose Guillen into the slot if they fail to trade him in the offseason.  Of those two possibilities, #2 has the better odds of actually happening.  The team will likely spend the first 75% of the offseason calling other GMs and trying to fool them into taking on Guillen.  If they actually find such a fool, they’ll then ink a free agent who got lost in the shuffle and is willing to take an every day job in exchange for a lower-than-expected contract.

Free Agency - There are a ton of names that could give the Royals some help next year.  The largest factor in who that player is will be based on who is still looking for a job on the eve of training camp in Arizona.  Here are the names that could experience a slow market, and thus, might have to settle for KC – Russell Branyan, Hank Blalock, Carlos Delgado, Adrian Beltre, Troy Glaus, Rick Ankiel, Aubrey Huff, and Jim Thome.

Down the Road - The franchise does not have an obvious DH-candidate.  And, frankly, if they did have a guy in his early-20s that projected to being an every day DH-option upon his arrival in the bigs, there’d be trouble.

Positional Strength – 3