Dayton Moore claims Ervin Santana can solve rotation problems – MLB Update
For the second straight year, the Kansa City Royals made a move that involves acquiring a pitcher from a West Coast team to strengthen their pitching rotation.
Last year, General Manager Dayton Moore acquired starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez from the San Francisco Giants but the deal did not work out from him as Sanchez took a beating every time he stepped on the mound.
This offseason, Moore has got his hands on another impressive but unreliable right hand pitcher, Ervin Santana in a trade that will send Minor League left hand pitcher Brandon Sisk to the Los Angeles Angels. According to a leading sports website, the Royals
have also traded Sanchez to the Colorado Rockies for pitcher Jeremy Guthrie.
“We look for guys who have the mindset that they can be a No. 1 starter,” Moore said. “It's too early to predict where he'll fit in but he certainly has the mindset to be a No. 1.”
Royals will be hoping that Santana can help them solve their pitching rotation problems. To be fair, Santana has been far more consistent than Sanchez although he went 9-13 with 5.16 ERA last season.
His last ten Major League Baseball starts show the kind of comfort level he is feeling these days. In those starts, he gave up just 45 hits and 16 walks in over 62 innings helping the Angels emerge victorious in several nail biting encounters.
“If they give me the opportunity, sure I can (be the No. 1),” he said. “I have the tools for it.”
“A little bit,” Santana said. “I knew those guys for a long time. But that's baseball. They trade me and I have to accept it.”
“But I'm excited to be going to the Royals,” he further added.
Moore is confident that the deal will do wonders for the Royals who have finished third on the American League Central Division standings in 2012. The GM had been working to finalise the deal since the end of the season.
It will be interesting to see if Santana can make the most of available opportunities to better Santana’s astonishing 2.04 WHIP with the Royals last year.
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