Give Glass Credit for Greinke Deal

It looks like Dayton Moore and Dan Glass decided their offseason was not quite done yet. Recently, The Royals announced that budding star Zack Greinke has been signed to a four year contract extension, for a reported 38 million dollars. In signing Greinke, the Royals have bought out two of his free agency years, a feat few expected as Greinke trade rumors swirled throughout the offseason.

It is almost impossible to explain how important this signing is for the Royals organization. Only months from the signing of stud closer Joakim Soria to a three year (with three option years) contract extension, the Greinke deal represents a new era of management for the organization. There was a time when extensions for hot Royals prospects were as likely as a meteor shower raining down on the K.

Consider the cases of Kevin Appier, Carlos Beltran, Jermaine Dye, Johnny Damon, and Raul Ibanez. All were players whose great productivity all but ensured a one-way ticket out of town. During much of that time, there was no owner to give final say-so on a large, guaranteed contract. Thus large, guaranteed contracts were non-existent, their void filled with large, depressing, hope crushing trades.

In 2000, David Glass bought the Royals for $96 million. In sports ownership terms, this was a purchase from the 75% off rack at Marshall’s. It was a Dollar Menu cheeseburger. And Glass treated it like the bargain it was.

His only major signing during this period was of Mike Sweeney, the slugging first baseman with a golden reputation around town. This virtually signaled the end for emerging super-duper star Carlos Beltran, who was eventually traded in midseason 2004 for a bag of potatoes and some eye black. Of course, Sweeney was almost immediately incapacitated by a nagging, well, everything. During the course of his 5 year, 55 million dollar contract, he never played more than 122 games, bottoming out with a combined 134 games between 2006-2007.

Rookie of the Year Angel Berroa flamed out tremendously. The can’t miss shortstop acquired in the Dye trade, Neifi Perez, proved to be among the least-liked Royals during his tumultuous time here. All-Everything prospect Alex Gordon developed more slowly than expected, and hitting machine Billy Butler stalled when faced with major league pitching. And, well, this seemed about right for the Royals.

But then something happened. Amid a disappointing 2008 season, the Royals announced that they had signed phenom Joakim Soria to an extension, a deal that would keep him in a Royals uniform for the foreseeable future. While having Soria signed was wonderful, it was the philosophical shift in management’s thinking which really got me excited.

It got me excited because for the first time in years it allowed me to think about a time and place where the Greinke signing was possible, where I could grow attached to my favorite players and envision them in Royals gear for years to come. And today, it has happened. Zack Greinke has forfeited a chance at mega-millions in free agency to stay with the Kansas City Royals. Fans should rejoice, should thank Zack Greinke for staying loyal, should thank GM Dayton Moore for convincing our best prospect in years that the Royals can contend. But most of all, fans should thank owner David Glass for doing what it takes to build a winner. He, more than anyone, deserves credit for making us believe again. Congratulations, Mr. Glass.