Kris Medlen
photo by Tim Evearitt
The Royals would love to see Kris Medlen return to the form that made him one of the breakout pitching stars of Major League Baseball in 2012 and 2013. That's why they're willing to wait a bit longer for it to happen.
Kansas City didn't wait a day longer to sign Medlen, however, and on Thursday made official a two-year deal loaded with incentives for the pitcher, who is attempting to come back after his second Tommy John surgery. Medlen was introduced at a news conference in Kauffman Stadium and assigned uniform No. 39.
Given that the Royals already have a full starting staff of Jason Vargas, Jeremy Guthrie, Yordano Ventura, Danny Duffy and Edinson Volquez slated for 2015 along with Yohan Pino, who signed a Major League deal on Monday to provide Minor League options and rotational depth, the addition of Medlen signals patience and a bit of a risk that could yield a big reward down the road.
The Royals are excited to have him, too.
Medlen's lone season as a starter came in 2013 for the Atlanta Braves, when he blossomed into the one of the game's best. He was 15-12 with a 3.11 ERA and finished the season 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA and .197 average against in his final five starts.
He is 34-20 with a 2.95 ERA in 152 career appearances (61 starts).
"We believe in him a great deal," Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore said. "We're very excited for his future here in Kansas City. He's been one of the better starters in Major League Baseball in the recent past.
Moore said the second half would be a good guess for Medlen's return, but that late June or July could be possible. The club's training staff has already outlined a program for Medlen, who said he has been rehabbing on his own in Georgia, where he lives, alongside former big league reliever and teammate Peter Moylan.
And Medlen has plenty of admiration for the team he's joining. He said he enjoyed watching its smart and scrappy style of play, its stingy pitching staff and bullpen, and its dominant defense. The only problem, he said, was that it's been killing him to not be able to be on the field.
--- Source: MLB.com