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Gil Meche News & Rumors

Money, Meche have been linked throughout his career
January 19
Kansas City Star
 columnist Sam Mellinger
"Money always defined Gil Meche's baseball career. He came with a price tag from the very beginning, an $820,000 bonus from the Mariners as a first-round draft pick and he had a full appreciation for what money could buy when he made the big leagues at age 20. He will tell you now that he was kind of a punk back then. A know-it-all. No offense, but he had a fast car and a 95-mph fastball and millions of dollars on the way. The big payday came before the 2007 season, when the Royals signed him for a five-year $55 million contract that momentarily shook baseball. The Royals were notoriously cheap, so who were they to spend that kind of money? Meche had a career 4.65 ERA, so who was he to get"
Royals' Meche walks away from last year of contract and $12.4 million
January 19
Kansas City Star
 
"For the longest time, Gil Meche assumed he'd be pitching this season. Despite the shoulder problems that have limited his effectiveness for the last 19 months, the 32-year old right-hander says the thought of retirement had never even crossed his mind. That is, until this past December, when it suddenly hit him that even with his recent move to the bullpen, the odds of him making it through the season were highly unlikely. He just kept thinking: did he really want to be the guy on the disabled list making $12 million? The answer, after a month of deliberation, was no. And on Tuesday, the highest-paid player in Royals history made it official, announcing his retirement from baseball and his"
Royals' Meche announces retirement
January 18
Kansas City Star
 
"Royals pitcher Gil Meche announced today that he is retiring from baseball. He will be walking away from $12.4 million he was due this season. Meche signed a five-year deal with the Royals in December 2006 and had a 29-39 record with a 4.27 ERA in 111 games. He has struggled with shoulder injuries in the past two seasons, making just 43 appearances. Meche explained his decision in a statement, citing his health issues. "After a lot of thinking and prioritizing of issues in my life, I have decided to retire from baseball. As a competitor my entire life this is the hardest decision that I've ever faced, but it's not fair to me, my family or the Kansas City Royals that I attempt to pitch"
Meche adapts to relief pitching
September 6
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche and his shoulder are quickly adapting to relieving. Take Friday and Saturday as an example. Meche pitched a scoreless 10th inning Friday after warming up twice. One day later, he felt great. "I'm not having any soreness, which is awesome," he said. "I felt better (Saturday) than the day I threw all those pitches. It's a huge positive. I told Ned, 'I'm just letting you know, I could pitch today. I feel really good.'" Meche didn't pitch Saturday because the Royals don't want him throwing consecutive days. That is one of a few things he hopes to accomplish this September. "I want to throw some back-to-back days to see how I do and how my arm reacts," Meche said. "I want to have"
Royals officially add Meche, Fields and May to roster
September 1
Kansas City Star
 
"The Royals, as expected, bolstered their roster Wednesday by reinstating pitcher Gil Meche and infielder Josh Fields from the 60-day disabled list while also recalling catcher Lucas May from Class AAA Omaha. The moves came on the first day that Major League rules permit active rosters to expand from 25 to 40 players. The Royals cleared space on their 40-man organizational roster by transferring pitcher Luke Hochevar and outfielder David DeJesus from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. Players on the 60-day list do not count against the 40-player limit. Transferring Hochevar, 26, is purely an administrative move since he has already missed more than 60 days because of a sprained right"
Royals' Meche won't have surgery
August 2
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche won't be having season-ending shoulder surgery. Instead, he'll be starting a rehabilitation program that he hopes will have him ready to pitch in the Royals bullpen in September. Doctors told him surgery would preclude him from pitching the 2011 season and might have been career ending. It would've been his third career shoulder surgery. His two others came in 2001. "I took an option of not having it," Meche said. "My shoulder's beat up and everything. We're going a different option. The only way to play out my contract and contribute something to this organization, having surgery wasn't the way to go. "For me, starting pitching is not an option for me. I'm going to pitch in the"
Royals' Meche headed for season-ending surgery
July 28
Kansas City Star
 
"Royals pitcher Gil Meche believes he made every effort to avoid shoulder surgery — and it just didn't work. So season-ending surgery now looms as a likely next step. "I've done everything possible I could do to be on that mound," he said. "I know that, (the Royals) know that. It's not like I'm sitting here not wanting to pitch." All that work failed to resolve the problem. Meche showed diminished velocity Monday in a rehabilitation start for Class AAA Omaha against New Orleans. More troubling, his shoulder problems sharpened despite avoiding the strain of throwing his curveball, one of his best pitches. "The next step," manager Ned Yost confirmed, "is he'll probably have to have to surgery"
Royals' Meche headed for season-ending surgery
July 28
Kansas City Star
 
"Royals pitcher Gil Meche believes he made every effort to avoid shoulder surgery — and it just didn't work. So season-ending surgery now looms as a likely next step. "I've done everything possible I could do to be on that mound," he said. "I know that, (the Royals) know that. It's not like I'm sitting here not wanting to pitch." All that work failed to resolve the problem. Meche showed diminished velocity Monday in a rehabilitation start for Class AAA Omaha against New Orleans. More troubling, his shoulder problems sharpened despite avoiding the strain of throwing his curveball, one of his best pitches. "The next step," manager Ned Yost confirmed, "is he'll probably have to have to surgery"
Meche mess shows the risk of signing free-agent pitchers
July 11
Kansas City Star
 
"Baseball's stars are here, nearly all the big names, the men with the powerful bats and the dominating fastballs and this used to be the company that Gil Meche kept. Remember that? Three years ago this week, Kansas City's biggest sports story was the Royals' new ace pitching his way onto the All-Star team. The Mark Redman jokes became outdated, and general manager Dayton Moore's $55 million investment went from league-wide scorn to something closer to praise. Meche was terrific that first year, very good the second, and solid again last year until some gross misuse helped turn him and his contract into what now feels like a permanent, expensive mess. The trend is unmistakable. Three years"
Royals put Meche on disabled list because of shoulder injury
May 30
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche doesn't have an explanation. There's no biting pain in his shoulder, but renewed inflammation - diagnosed as bursitis - forced his return Saturday to the disabled list prior to the Royals' game against the Boston Red Sox. "I don't why this keeps happening," he admitted. "We'll look into it and see what happens. I don't know. It sucks." Veteran lefty Bruce Chen will replace Meche in the rotation Sunday when the Royals conclude a four-game weekend series at Fenway Park. Right-hander Brad Thompson will be the first alternative out of the bullpen. "It was a coin flip between Chen and Thompson," manager Ned Yost said. "But (the Red Sox) have a few more lefty matchups, so we went with"
Meche is solid but Royals fall again in Texas
May 9
Kansas City Star
 
"It isn't hard to identify what kept Gil Meche and the Royals in a tailspin Saturday night in their 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers. It wasn't Ian Kinsler's two-out RBI single in the eighth inning. That merely drove in the winning run. The real problems were seven walks by Meche, which undercut an otherwise strong performance, and an increasingly feeble attack. Start with the walks. All three Texas runs were scored by batters who walked. "It's terrible," Meche agreed. "Obviously, I pitched better as far as my numbers have been. But seven walks is not good, especially against a team like this. I just couldn't make up for the walks." Not for lack of effort. Meche threw 128 pitches - matching"
Meche struggles, Royals offense does little in 5-1 loss to White Sox
May 4
Kansas City Star
 
"Pretty high on any list of things the Royals didn't need Monday night was for Jake Peavy to find his form. So, yeah, guess what happened? Peavy threw seven-plus shutout innings before the bullpen closed out Chicago's 5-1 victory over the Royals at U.S. Cellular Field. How good was Peavy? The Royals found themselves groping for words. "He was pretty good," designated hitter José Guillen said as he raised his hand to his head to offer a simulated tip of his cap. "He was pretty good," catcher Jason Kendall said while moving his hand quickly down and away from his body to simulate the movement on a typical Peavy pitch. "We ran into the wrong Peavy," manager Trey Hillman said. "You always hope"
Hillman sees no mechanical/delivery problems with Meche
April 25
Kansas City Star
 
"The day after another eyebrow-raising start from pitcher Gil Meche, Royals manager Trey Hillman indicated he sees nothing beneath the surface inhibiting the team's former ace. "We don't think it's mechanical or a delivery issue," Hillman said. "We'll keep digging. … Hopefully he'll have a good side session and be better in his next start." Meche has an 0-2 record and 11.37 earned-run average in three starts since returning from a season-opening stint on the disabled list stemming from a bout of shoulder bursitis that developed during spring training. Pitching Friday in the series opener against Minnesota, he failed to get through the fourth inning for the second time in those three"
Meche's performance is cause for concern
April 12
Kansas City Star
 
"The most important piece of anatomy in the Royals' organization is tucked underneath a purple dress shirt, and Gil Meche swears it feels fine. There is no pain in that shoulder, Meche says, which means you are free to decide whether that's a good or bad sign. Because his first start of the season turned out to be one of his worst in three years here, and if there are many more like this, it's hard to imagine the Royals not taking a grip on the bottom of the American League Central standings. Meche gave up seven runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings of the Royals' 8-6 loss to Boston on Sunday, a self-described "terrible outing" by one of the most indispensable Royals. He's given up more hits"
Aviles goes to Omaha to make room for Meche
April 12
Kansas City Star
 
"To accommodate Gil Meche's return from the 15-day disabled list, somebody had to go. That person was infielder Mike Aviles. The Royals announced Sunday morning that Aviles has been sent down to Class AAA Omaha. The decision means the Royals are carrying 13 pitchers and only 12 position players. "We need to keep as much pitching as we can right now until we get this bullpen situation ironed out," Royals manager Trey Hillman said before the game. Hillman said Aviles, who had only one at-bat and zero starts, will play shortstop in Omaha. "He was disappointed, which we knew he would be," Hillman said. "But he also expressed the trust he has in what we're doing and how we're doing it. He's been"
Meche ready to make his season debut
April 11
Kansas City Star
 
"Through five games - and even with ace Zack Greinke's un-Zack-like outing Saturday - Royals starting pitchers boast a combined 2.51 earned-run average. And the rotation's highest-paid arm hasn't even thrown a pitch yet. That will come today. Gil Meche, who's recovering from bursitis in his pitching shoulder, remains on track to make his first start of the season in the series finale with the Boston Red Sox this afternoon. It'll be his first regular-season start since Aug. 29. "I can't wait to wake up and actually know I'm pitching," Meche said. Meche, who was 6-10 with a 5.09 ERA in an injury-plagued 2009 season, will oppose Boston right-hander Clay Buchholz today. Meche expects to throw"
Meche will start for Royals on Sunday
April 8
Kansas City Star
 
"Royals manager Trey Hillman confirmed Wednesday what many had been suspecting. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, pitcher Gil Meche will make his 2010 debut against Boston at 1:10 p.m. Sunday at Kauffman Stadium. "He'll probably start Sunday," said Hillman, who expects Meche to throw between 90-95 pitches in the game. Meche, whose recent bout with bursitis in his right shoulder landed him on the 15-day disabled list, threw five shutout innings against a collection of the Royals' minor-league players in Surprise, Ariz., on Tuesday. It was the latest in a series of encouraging pitching sessions for Meche, who indicated Wednesday that the shoulder feels fine. "You always hear pitchers talking"
Meche continues to make progress
April 5
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche continues to progress. Royals manager Trey Hillman said Meche, who has been battling stiffness is his throwing shoulder and is currently on the 15-day disabled list, is scheduled to throw again during the Royals' off day on Tuesday. "We got anon Gil yesterday - and we got it through the medical team - he feels great," Hillman said. "We'll see how far he goes (Tuesday) and try to get him lined up from there." Meche, who could make his tentative April 11 start against Boston at Kauffman Stadium, experienced no problems while throwing 69 pitches in five pitch-count-controlled innings in a minor-league game Thursday."
Meche reports no stiffness after four innings of simulated game action
March 29
Kansas City Star
 
"This procession on a cool, clear Palm Sunday led to a bullpen mound along the western edge of the Surprise Recreation Campus. Here a small group gathered to watch Gil Meche test his troublesome right shoulder and, perhaps, determine the Royals' potential to raise themselves into competitiveness within the American League Central. The result couldn't have been more upbeat. Meche threw 127 pitches, including all of his warm-ups, and afterward reported no stiffness. Barring any setbacks, he now seems likely to open the season in the rotation, though he remains a long shot to pitch the second game as previously planned. "I thought I had a really good day," Meche said. "After my last start,"
Royals scratch Ankiel again, wary on status of Callaspo, Meche
March 28
Kansas City Star
 
"The return of center fielder Rick Ankiel to the Royals' lineup is back on hold because of renewed soreness in his troublesome right ankle. That's only one piece of troubling injury news as the Royals move toward their season opener April 5 against Detroit at Kauffman Stadium. Club officials also remain anxious in tracking the status of infielder Alberto Callaspo and pitcher Gil Meche. Ankiel's latest problem represents an undeniable setback. He was scratched Saturday from duties as the designated hitter against Oakland in what would have been his first action in a Cactus League game since March 11. "He came out a little bit sooner than we'd hoped (Friday in a minor-league game)," manager"
Meche's stiff shoulder has Royals pondering options; Hillman also tinkering with lineup
March 24
Kansas City Star
 
"It isn't enough, it seems, for manager Trey Hillman to juggle nearly every aspect of his pitching staff to provide the necessary contingencies arising from Gil Meche's balky shoulder. Hillman is also tinkering with a new-look lineup that has third baseman Alberto Callaspo as the No. 3 hitter as the Royals march toward their April 5 season opener against Detroit at Kauffman Stadium. There is little doubt, though, that any possible lineup changes pale in comparison to the growing anxiety surrounding Meche, who exited Monday's start against the White Sox after just three innings because of shoulder stiffness. Revised plans call for Meche to skip his usual between-starts bullpen workout today,"
Meche's stiff shoulder has Royals pondering options
March 24
Kansas City Star
 
"It isn't enough, it seems, for manager Trey Hillman to juggle nearly every aspect of his pitching staff to provide the necessary contingencies arising from Gil Meche's balky shoulder. Hillman is also tinkering with a new-look lineup that has third baseman Alberto Callaspo as the No. 3 hitter as the Royals march toward their April 5 season opener against Detroit at Kauffman Stadium. There is little doubt, though, that any possible lineup changes pale in comparison to the growing anxiety surrounding Meche, who exited Monday's start against the White Sox after just three innings because of shoulder stiffness. Revised plans call for Meche to skip his usual between-starts bullpen workout"
Royals' Meche admits shoulder stiffness after early exit
March 23
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche sent a tremor through the Royals' rotation Monday afternoon by revealing he exited his start against the Chicago White Sox after three innings because of ongoing shoulder stiffness. The size of that tremor will be determined over the next several days. "They've done all of the tests to check me out," Meche said. "The shoulder is strong, but the tightness is there. I just don't feel real loose when I'm pitching. I just have some shoulder stiffness. Nothing serious." Monday's plans called for Meche to throw roughly 75 pitches over four or five innings. Instead, he headed for the clubhouse after the third inning following a brief conversation with pitching coach Bob McClure. "Today,"
Meche believes back and shoulders issues are behind him
March 7
Kansas City Star
 
"The key moment in Gil Meche's recovery from a year plagued by back and shoulder miseries came in November on a Texas golf course. It didn't hurt to play. "In the previous offseason," he said, "I wasn't able to play golf because when I would go to swing, I would notice from the (body) rotation that I would get a little tight the next day. "I played a round last November. When I realized how good I felt, I started playing every 10 days or two weeks. I never had any problems with it. So I knew what I was doing was definitely benefiting my body. "When I started throwing, it was the same thing. I didn't feel anything. To this day, I haven't felt anything in my back." A healthy Meche ranks atop"
Meche throwing from the mound without pain
February 27
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche is already having a better spring than a year ago. Five times already, he's pitched from a mound in either a bullpen workout or in throwing batting practice and - so far - he reports no problems with his shoulder or lower back. That's not just good news for the Royals. It might be the best possible news in what has been an upbeat camp through the first week of full-squad workouts. "I've pushed (myself in) a couple of bullpens to see where my arm was," Meche said, "and I felt great. For me, in camp, it's always been a matter early on of trying to get my fastball going and make sure my body feels good. "As of right now, I feel good, and I'm ready to go." A cautionary note: Meche"
Meche seeing benefits from new back-conditioning program
February 27
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche is already having a better spring than a year ago. Five times already, he's pitched from a mound in either a bullpen workout or in throwing batting practice and - so far - he reports no problems with his shoulder or lower back. That's not just good news for the Royals. It might be the best possible news in what has been an upbeat camp through the first week of full-squad workouts. "I've pushed (myself in) a couple of bullpens to see where my arm was," Meche said, "and I felt great. For me, in camp, it's always been a matter early on of trying to get my fastball going and make sure my body feels good. "As of right now, I feel good, and I'm ready to go." A cautionary note: Meche"
Jackson just the start of pitching deals
December 8
Foxsports.com
 
"Edwin Jackson will not be the last starting pitcher traded. The Blue Jays are working three- and four-team scenarios involving Roy Halladay. The Braves are aggressively shopping Derek Lowe. The Rangers are actively discussing right-hander Kevin Millwood. Other available starting pitchers include the Reds' Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, the Royals' Gil Meche, the Rangers' Brandon McCarthy and — only for the right price — the Pirates' Zach Duke and Paul Maholm. For a team such as the Angels, facing the potential loss of free-agent right-hander John Lackey, the options are plentiful. If the Jays' price for Halladay is too high, they can always turn to Lowe. The Orioles, pursuing Millwood,"
Cubs and Royals meet to discuss a Milton Bradley-for-Gil Meche trade
December 7
ESPN.com
 
"Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals personnel got together on Sunday night and had peripheral conversations about possible trade scenarios that could work for the two clubs. Milton Bradley would be the type of run producer Kansas City would be interested in, while Royals pitcher Gil Mesh is someone they would consider trading. K.C. is looking for a run-producing outfielder and Bradley could fit nicely with the small-market Royals."
Mets shopping for players that Meche
December 7
New York Post
 columnist Joel Sherman
"The Mets intend to check in on the three top free agents -- Jason Bay, Matt Holliday and John Lackey -- during the Winter Meetings, with the strongest hope that Lackey's price falls into a range to make him their No. 2 starter behind Johan Santana. But more and more the Mets are thinking they may have to spread their approximately 25 million in available dollars around to address multiple needs rather than lure one major player, particularly if Lackey commands a contract north of A.J. Burnett's five-year, $82.5 million deal. The Mets think Lackey is less of a physical risk than many other organizations do, and they expect that his stuff would be even better in the NL. However, they would"
Meche likely done for '09; Bannister seeks second opinion
September 11
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche is now unlikely to pitch again the rest of the season, and Brian Bannister is headed to New York for a second opinion, both Royals pitchers dealing with shoulder injuries. Royals manager Trey Hillman would not reveal what Bannister's diagnosis is from team doctors, or whether he thought it was possible for Bannister to pitch again this season. The Royals hope Meche - who has shoulder inflammation - can play catch sometime soon, but are in no hurry to put him back in the rotation. "I guess it's possible, but it's doubtful," Hillman said. "We want to monitor his body, continue to treat it.""
Royals' Gil Meche not likely to pitch the rest of the season
September 11
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche is now unlikely to pitch again the rest of the season, and Brian Bannister is headed to New York for a second opinion as both Royals pitchers deal with shoulder injuries. Royals manager Trey Hillman would not reveal what Bannister's diagnosis is from team doctors, or whether he thought it possible for Bannister to pitch again this season. The Royals hope Meche -- who has shoulder inflammation -- can play catch sometime soon, but are in no hurry to put him back in the rotation."
Meche's tired shoulder similar to Bannister's
September 5
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche's nightmare season continued Friday with a late scratch from a scheduled start. Club officials are calling it a tired shoulder, similar to what brought Brian Bannister out of his Wednesday start after 1 1/3 innings. Both pitchers underwent medical examinations earlier in the day, and the Royals are awaiting the results before making a decision on the next trip through the rotation. Meche is 6-10 with a 5.09 ERA in 24 starts, a season limited by injuries and his first stint on the disabled list in three years with the Royals. He was 14-11 with a 3.48 ERA last season while tying for a league high 34 starts. "It was sore a couple days ago," Hillman said. "…We've known for a couple"
Meche looks ahead to 2010
August 24
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche has adjusted whatever lofty goals he set for himself before the season, mentioning 10 wins and 170 innings as worthy aims. More important than that, though: figuring out a way to make his 2010 season healthy and much better. "I want to do a lot of things this offseason," he said, "to basically make sure this doesn't happen again next year. I guess we'll see." After tying for the American League lead with 34 starts in each of the last two seasons - one of only five pitchers in baseball with that many starts during 2007-08 - Meche missed more than a month because of back problems. Today will be his third start since returning from the disabled list; he gave up four earned runs in"
Royals to get Meche back on Thursday
August 9
MLB.com
 
"Gil Meche is back in the Royals' rotation, at least tentatively, for Thursday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome. Royals manager Trey Hillman made that decision on Sunday after hearing reports on Meche's injury rehabilitation start for Triple-A Omaha on Saturday night. Hillman said that after Kyle Davies opens the series at Minnesota on Tuesday night, Brian Bannister will pitch on Wednesday night with Meche starting on Thursday. That means left-hander Bruce Chen, who gained his first Royals victory on Sunday, will be passed over and will pitch out of the bullpen. The Royals also will have to make a roster move to accommodate Meche's return. Meche, who hasn't pitched"
Meche 'good to go' for next start, manager says
June 30
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche produced a thumbs-up Monday afternoon after a pregame throwing workout to test whether his "dead arm" can handle his scheduled start Wednesday against Minnesota. Meche rested his arm for two days, saying that Monday's throwing session from flat ground would determine his availability to pitch the series finale against the Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Royals manager Trey Hillman said the decision would mostly be Meche's. Turns out he feels good enough. "Gil is good to go," Hillman said. "He's going to pitch Wednesday." Meche is 4-7 with a 4.27 ERA, and his next start was in doubt after displaying diminished velocity and complaining of "not feeling good" after lasting just five"
Meche to decide today on whether to pitch Wednesday
June 29
Kansas City Star
 
"Gil Meche will test his "dead arm" today in a throwing workout before deciding whether to make his scheduled start Wednesday against Minnesota. "I won't know anything until (today)," he said. "Am I concerned? Wouldn't you be? I was throwing 87-88 miles an hour (on Friday). So, yeah, I'm concerned." Meche lasted just five innings Friday and showed diminished velocity in a 5-3 loss to the Pirates and complained afterward of "not feeling great." It was his second straight disappointing start since a shutout June 16 against Arizona. "It depends on how he feels in a couple of days," manager Trey Hillman said. "He says he felt a little dead in his last start." Meche said he didn't believe the"