BP Comment Quick Links
March 14, 2013 Rumor RoundupRoyally Flushed
The Royals liked Luke Hochevar more than most other teams in June 2006, when they made the University of Tennessee standout the first overall pick in a draft that also included Evan Longoria, Brandon Morrow, and Tim Lincecum. Seven years and numerous plot twists later, it appears that the Royals still hold the right-hander in higher regard than their counterparts around the league. Dayton Moore’s price tag turns teams away from Hochevar Denver Post beat writer Troy Renck speculated a few months ago that Hochevar, a Denver native, could fit with the Rockies, but talks between Dan O’Dowd and Moore never came to fruition. And, since then, rumors involving Hochevar have been few and far between, even though his growing salary—eventually set at $4.56 million by an agreement reached on January 18 to avoid arbitration—and the lack of a guaranteed rotation spot in Kansas City appeared to portend a ticket out of town. Yet, for all of the signs that suggested a trade was in the hopper, Hochevar reported to the Royals’ spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona, last month and is still a member of the organization that preferred him to the other high-ceiling talents available in the 2006 draft. Last September, manager Ned Yost and pitching coach Dave Eiland told Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star that Hochevar was on the verge of turning the corner, that consistency was the only barrier remaining in his long-awaited ascent to ace-level performance, and that focusing on three or four pitches instead of employing a six-deep arsenal could yield the desired results. That article ran on September 10, and in his four regular-season starts after it was published, Hochevar coughed up 22 earned runs in 24 innings of work, allowing opponents to amass a .340/.393/.540 triple-slash line just weeks after he delivered one of the best outings of his major-league career. Then, after Moore’s additions forced him to compete to retain his spot in the rotation, Hochevar was charged with six runs over eight innings in his first three Cactus League appearances, and his underwhelming start led Yost to yank him from the race with nearly three weeks left to go. Royals pare their fifth-starter competition down to four With multiple, apparently superior, options in camp, the Royals’ decision to boot Hochevar from the fifth-start competition is a logical one. It’s also possible that pitching in shorter stints will help the righty to refine his arsenal and hone in on his most effective offerings, most notably a hard slider that has induced whiffs on nearly one-fifth of its uses during his big-league career, per his Brooks Baseball profile. But with Danny Duffy and Felipe Paulino due back from Tommy John surgery sometime during the regular season, and a surplus of starters even with those two on the shelf, the Royals’ decision to cling to Hochevar is puzzling. We will learn over the coming weeks whether the Royals hope that Hochevar can develop into a late-inning force or are simply transitioning him to the bullpen as part of an audition for potential suitors. Yost told reporters, including Dutton, on Wednesday, that he would like to see Hochevar earn a set-up role alongside Kelvin Herrera, Tim Collins, and Aaron Crow, rather than serving as a swingman or long reliever. If that’s the case, then the move is likely to be an extended commitment, not a short-term trial, since it would take time for the northpaw to stretch back out for rotation duty once the season begins. Several teams kicking the tires on Brennan Boesch MLB.com’s Bernie Pleskoff, a former pro scout, watched Boesch in three games earlier this month, and tweeted that his swing and approach didn’t look much better than the 3-for-16 effort they had produced over 18 plate appearances. Boesch reached a $2.3 million deal with the Tigers to forgo his first year of arbitration eligibility, but since the bulk of that was not guaranteed, owner Mike Ilitch will only be on the hook for about $379,000. Meanwhile, teams in need of outfield depth are now pondering whether Boesch represents an upgrade over their internal choices. The list includes the Mets and Yankees, though the interest in Queens is “marginal,” according to New York Post beat writer Mike Puma. Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe heard that the Red Sox are “talking internally” about Boesch, and the Astros might consider him as a low-cost gamble, though MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart is unsure of how he would fit into Houston’s outfield plans. With at least four clubs in touch with agent Brodie Van Wagenen, it should not take long for Boesch to find a new home. Boesch will most likely emphasize a legitimate chance to stick on his next team’s Opening Day roster, and he might seek an opt-out clause to ensure another opportunity to test the market if he fails to secure a spot on April 1.
Daniel Rathman is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @danielrathman
8 comments have been left for this article.
|
I wouldn't classify Luke Hochevar as "a member of the organization that preferred him to the other high-ceiling talents available in the 2006 draft." True, it's still the same organization, but he only people in the organization who remain from the time of the 2006 draft are David and Dan Glass.
I had a similar reaction, and I think the only reason they "preferred him" was the expectation that he would come cheaper than the talents that legitimately deserved to go 1-1.
Thanks, guys — probably not the best word choice there. Just meant to say that they are his first and only professional organization, and stretched it too far.
The lingering attachment to him is weird, I will grant you that.