Off-Season Central: Royals Acquire Ervin Santana

It can’t be finally seeping into the melon of Royals GM Dayton Moore that the Royals desperately need pitching, can it? Yesterday, the pitching starved Royals acquired Ervin Santana from the Angels for minor league reliever Brandon Sisk. Sisk isn’t the most talented guy on the planet, but he may have some value as a lefty out of the pen for the Angels next season. Santana is obviously the big fish here.

September 30, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Ervin Santana (54) throws to the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-US PRESSWIRE

The Royals clearly have a need for pitching, and I was beginning to wonder if Dayton Moore was going to let the window pass on his young offensive studs pass without ever getting viable major league pitching on the mound to help. By no means does Ervin Santana cure the Royals pitching woes by himself, but for the Royals, it’s a start.

Santana became expendable to the Angels, mainly because he makes a good amount of money, and the Angels would like nothing more than to bring Zack Greinke back. With that being their priority, Santana, and fellow expensive starter Dan Haren were recently put on the trade market.

Santana, who is slated to make 13M dollars on his 2013 option, isn’t worth the money frankly. However, he has had some quality big league seasons, and depending on which Santana the Royals get, he could provide a solid middle of the rotation starter for the Royals. In 2012, Santana had an ERA of 5.16, but the previous year he posted an ERA of 3.38. The home run ball is what killed Santana last year, as he allowed 2 HR/9. That seems a bit of an aberration…at least the Royals better hope so.

This is really a low risk, possibly good reward for the Royals. After all, it’s really only costing them money.