Kansas City Royals Sign Tim Collins To Avoid Arbitration

The Kansas City Royals signed lefty reliever Tim Collins to a one-year, $1.475 million deal to avoid arbitration, according to Fox Sports reporter Jeffrey Flanagan:

The 26-year-old Collins missed the 2015 season for the KC Royals when he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in spring training. Tim Collins had complied a 12-17 record, and a 3.54 ERA with a 9.4 K/9 in four seasons in a Kansas City Royals uniform before his injury.

Known as “Tiny” Tim Collins due to his diminutive height (5’7″, 170 pounds), Collins throws hard enough to miss bats. The KC Royals acquired Tim Collins as part of a package that included pitcher Jesse Chavez and outfielder Gregor Blanco in return for centerielder Rick Ankiel and reliever Kyle Farnsworth in a three team deal that involved the Atanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays before the 2011 season.

Collins enjoyed his best season in Kansas City in 2012, when he tossed 69.2 innings with a 5-4 record, 3.36 ERA, and outstanding 12.0 K/9. However, Tim Collins struggled with forearm and other injuries in 2014 and only appeared in 22 games when the KC Royals finally broke their 28-year playoff drought.

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Signing Tim Collins returns him to KC for his final arbitration year. Collins will be eligible for free-agency next winter. Adding Tim Collins now gives the Kansas City Royals four relievers under contract for the 2016 season along with Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera, and Luke Hochevar.

Though Tim Collins is left-handed, the KC Royals still probably need to acquire a lefty bullpen specialist since Collins has a career reverse platoon split. He’s actually more effective against opposite-side hitters.

Re-signing Tim Collins is something of a no-brainer move for Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore since he’s a quality bullpen arm that comes at low cost. However, Moore still needs to add at least two more bullpen pieces this winter. Hopefully, Collins’ recovery from Tommy John surgery will allow him to regain the effectiveness he enjoyed earlier in his Kansas City career.

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Even though Tim Collins is not a true candidate to become part of the bullpen’s “three-headed monster”, he’s a useful middle inning piece.