Ibanez gone...

GRID · Post by **GRID** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 1:54 pm

I will miss this guy.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1665706

JBinKC · Post by **JBinKC** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 2:48 pm

Wow, he didn't waste any time getting out of town...that's too bad. Oh well, now I can boo him when the Mariners visit.

zonk · Post by **zonk** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 4:50 pm

This is one of the dumbest moves the Royals could have made...

KCPowercat · Post by **KCPowercat** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 5:08 pm

Royals offer him 2 years at $4M per year, Seattle offers him 3 years at $4.5M

$4M was way more than enough for Raul...he bailed on this team

StL_Dan · Post by **StL_Dan** » Thu Nov 20, 2003 7:58 pm

Look at it this way, though. The Royals freed up a few mill, will get 2 draft choices AND have some much needed jack to sing Brian Anderson, Leskanic and apply towards more pitching which SHOULD be priority ONE with any team hoping to improve to the next level, which KC can do in the weak AL Central.

Raul was great while he was here....you just don't go out and find guys who can hit 290, 30 hr and 90 rbi on a tree limb somewhere. BUT, Sweeney stays healthy, C Belt builds on last year (Royals use his desire to remain a top flight UFA at the end of the year to their advantage), Randa remains consistent, Harvey improves, and a few key short term acquisitions (RonDL White, etc) and this team will contend again next year.