FanHouse Mark Grudzielanek

Those who follow sports learned a valuable lesson this week. After watching Tom Watson nearly win the British Open before fading down the stretch and finally losing a playoff to Stewart Cink, we learned that sometimes age is nothing but a number. We learned that just because somebody is older, that doesn't mean they can't compete on the big stage.

So, possibly with that in mind, the Minnesota Twins have signed 39-year old free agent Mark Grudzielanek to a minor-league deal. OK, so I doubt Tom Watson's run at the British Open had anything to do with it, but it still happened.

FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Kansas City Royals.

The 2008 season was a lot like every other season for the Kansas City Royals lately, with one major exception. They didn't finish in last place of the AL Central. No, that honor went to the Detroit Tigers instead. Still, while fourth place isn't really anything to get excited about in any baseball city other than Pittsburgh, in Kansas City it has bred hope for better things in 2009.

When the Padres dealt Khalil Greene to the Cardinals recently -- in an attempt to slash payroll -- they were left with a void in the middle of the infield. Assuming they don't end up trading Jake Peavy for some major league ready players to fill those holes, they'll have to sign some short-term replacements. The candidates? Well, it ain't pretty.

Reported Padres' general manager Kevin Towers is interested in -- drumroll, please -- David Eckstein, Mark Grudzielanek, and Omar Vizquel. Fortunately for Padres fans, those guys may be too pricey.

"We've got to keep our options open, and we certainly need middle infield help," Towers said. "We provide opportunity, but to be financially aggressive on players right now, we can't do it. Our hope is that the later we get in free-agent season, there will still be inventory out there and people who need jobs."

I'm guessing Padres fans hope those guys are all signed by the time the Padres get around to being active. Let's take a look at each, and what he could (not) bring to the table in 2009.

All in all, 24 players were offered arbitration by last night's midnight deadline, including 15 Type A free agents and nine Type B. Players are classified using a rating system created by Elias Sports Bureau to determine the level of compensation a team receives if a player refuses arbitration and signs elsewhere.

Most of the time, Type A free agents are elite players who are all but certain to refuse the offer in anticipation of receiving multiyear offers on the open market. This year's Type A free agents to receive offers include: A.J. Burnett, Orlando Cabrera, Juan Cruz, Brian Fuentes, Orlando Hudson, Raul Ibanez, Derek Lowe, Darren Oliver, Oliver Perez, Manny Ramirez, Francisco Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Mark Teixeira and Jason Varitek.

If any of those players refuse arbitration to sign elsewhere, their new teams will have to cough up two draft picks as compensation. That said, most of them are so talented that the prospect of losing a draft pick or two won't intimidate interested suitors. In other words, if you're favorite team is committed to signing Manny, losing a measly draft pick or two won't stop it. But for older players who only have one or two productive seasons left (Oliver, Varitek: I'm looking at you), losing draft picks is something worth thinking twice about.

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2009.

After finishing 12th in the AL in runs, OBP, and SLG last year, the Royals have already begun to try to upgrade their offense, acquiring Mike Jacobs from the Marlins for Leo Nunez last week. Jacobs, who hit 32 homers last season, will add power, but that's about all he brings to the table. He walked just 36 times last season, so he'll fit right in with the Royals, who finished dead last in the American League in BB.

It was also a somewhat odd move since they have multiple 1B/DH types already, including Ryan Shealy, Kila Ka'aihue, and Billy Butler. But GM Dayton Moore may plan to move one or more of those guys in trades later this winter.

Who may leave?
2B Mark Grudzielanek (free agent)

What do they need?
Kansas City's strengths are the top of their rotation, with Gil Meche and Zach Greinke, and the back of their bullpen, with stud closer Joakim Soria. Brian Bannister isn't as bad as he was last year (5.76 ERA), but he isn't as good as his '07 performance (3.87 ERA) would indicate either. Bannister and Kyle Davies aren't bad back-of-the-rotation options, but the Royals could use a guy to slot in ahead of them. Their bullpen was decent last year, and when you're still a couple years away from contention like Kansas City is, you don't really want to be throwing money at free agent relievers.

Yesterday was my birthday, and by far the best present I got was my new television. I love the thing. I love the fact I can see every single zit on every single person who shows up on my screen. Why? I don't know, I just do.

"Hey look! Lou Piniella has a boil on his neck! That's awesome!"

Anyway, while I love my new TV, it's got nothing compared to what the Royals are doing next season.

The Kansas City Royals and Daktronics (Nasdaq:DAKT) announced today that the world's largest high definition (HD) light emitting diode (LED) video display will be installed at Kauffman Stadium prior to the start of the 2008 Major League Baseball season.

Daktronics HD-X LED technology will be installed in a huge outfield structure behind center field measuring more than 100 feet high by 85 feet wide, topped with the familiar Royals' iconic golden crown. The LED display will contain more than 1800 full-color lines of resolution with lines on 16 millimeter (.63") spacing. The display will be the largest HD LED board in the world, surpassing the former record holders designed and manufactured by Daktronics for Dolphin Stadium in Miami and Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin.

That is one big ass television. 100x85 feet? Good God man, Mark Grudzielanek is going to be 70 feet tall! He's going to destroy the city!!

The Royals are not only in a tie for fourth place in the AL Central, but over the last two months they've been playing better than anybody else within the division. I know that that's not exactly saying much right now, but it's still a reason for the Royals to be excited as they finish up this season and start to get ready for 2008.

If Dayton Moore adds another pitcher or two to the starting rotation for next season, the Royals may be on their way back to respectability, and if they are, they made sure yesterday that Mark Grudzielanek will be around to see it.

Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek and club officials reached an agreement Monday on a one-year contract extension. Terms were not announced, but the deal is believed to match Grudzielanek's current $4 million salary.

"This team is getting better," Grudzielanek said, "and we're going to start winning here. I'd like to be around for it."

Grudzielanek is probably one of the most underrated players in baseball. Not only is he a career .289 hitter, and he's hitting .305 this season, but he's also the reigning Gold Glove second baseman in the American League.

He also brings a veteran presence to an extremely young team, which makes the $4 million the Royals are paying him an absolute bargain.

Major League Mongering will look at players rumored to be on the move between now and the July 31st pseudo-trade-deadline.

Now that the Mets have lost Jose Valentin for at least six weeks thanks to a broken right tibia, they find themselves a little short at second base. Willie Randolph seems to think that Ruben Gotay, Anderson Hernandez, and Damion Easley can fill in, but there's a better option in Kansas City.

Omar Minaya is aware of it too.

Royals veteran Mark Grudzielanek is believed to be on a short list of second basemen eyed by the New York Mets as a possible replacement for injured Jose Valentin.

The Mets showed interest in Grudzielanek as a free agent after the 2005 season before opting to sign Valentin. Grudzielanek signed four days later with the Royals.

Grudzielanek would be an upgrade over any of the Mets options right now. He's the reigning AL Gold Glove winner at second base, so he'll fit in seamlessly with Jose Reyes, and he's a .300 hitter.

If the Mets were to get Grudzielanek, they could place him in the second spot of the lineup where he's just about a perfect fit. He very rarely strikes out, and he'll be able to make sure Jose Reyes gets to second or third without having to steal a base if need be. He'll also get on base a lot himself making sure there are runners on when Carlos Beltran, David Wright, and Carlos Delgado come up to the plate.

It's not going to completely solve the Mets problem in their starting rotation, but Grudz's addition would make an already potent offense even more dangerous, and take more pressure off of the Mets pitching staff.

Kansas City Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek will be undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and start the 2007 season on the disabled list.

Grudzielanek first noticed some pain in his left knee on Friday night, and when it hadn't gone away by Saturday, he informed the Royals of the problem. After an MRI revealed a medial meniscus cartilage tear on Sunday, it was decided by both Grudzielanek and the Royals that surgery was the best option.

Grudzelanek has no idea how the injury ocurred.

"Nothing just triggered it or anything happened like that," Grudzielanek said. "It just happened. It kind of just came up. It wasn't because I turned too hard or anything like that. It was just weird. I'm pretty open about this [surgery], once I get things done and handled."

It's pretty likely it was nothing major that happened. I know somebody who recently suffered the same injury and had to have surgery, and he tore his just getting out of bed in the morning.

Grudzielanek will probably miss the first two weeks of the season, and that's how the Royals are going to approach the situation.

"We're going to play it as if he is not going to be there Opening Day," Royals manager Buddy Bell said on Sunday. "I'm going to plan for the worst-case scenario.

"I haven't heard a time frame on it. Until Dr. Joyce gets in there and we see how Grud responds to the rehab, we probably won't know for another week or two weeks when he is going to be back."

Esteban German will start at second base for the Royals in Grudzielanek's absence.