Posted at 10:28 a.m., Monday, January 21, 2008
Baseball: Tomko, Royals agree to $3M, 1-year contract
Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Right-hander Brett Tomko and the Kansas City Royals agreed Monday to a $3 million, one-year contract that allows the right-hander to earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses.Royals general manager Dayton Moore said the 34-year-old will compete for a spot in the rotation behind Gil Meche, Brian Bannister and Zack Greinke.
"We like the power in his arm and the experience that he brings to a very young pitching staff," Moore said. "I think he blends in very well with the current group of pitchers we have on the roster."
Other candidates for starting slots are Jorge De La Rosa, Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies and Luke Hudson. If Tomko doesn't start, he would join a bullpen that includes three left-handers: Jimmy Gobble, Ron Mahay and John Bale.
Tomko had 33 strikeouts in 29 2-3 innings as a reliever with just seven walks.
"More of his recent success has been in the bullpen," Moore said. "It gives us a power arm from the right side."
Tomko was 4-12 with a 5.55 ERA last year for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in 19 starts and 21 relief appearances. He is 93-92 with a 4.62 ERA for six major league teams in 11 seasons and is among just three pitchers since 2005 with 115 appearances and 60 starts. Miguel Batista and Brett Myers are the others.
Moore said the Royals likely wouldn't make any more moves before the start of spring training in mid-February.
"As spring training evolves, I'm sure there will be more things that we try to do," Moore said. "But right now I look for us to be pretty much set as we go into spring training."
