http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13466572.htm
Royals near deal with Reggie Sanders
By JEFF PASSAN
The Kansas City Star
The Royals have found their corner outfielder.
Reggie Sanders is expected to agree to a two-year, $10 million contract later today, filling out the team’s everyday lineup with a 15-year veteran who is eight home runs short of 300.
“We’re well on our way to getting it done,” said Mike Powers, Sanders’ agent. “Reggie’s excited about the way things have happened and where they’re going. But like everything else, it’s not done until we dot the I’s and cross the T’s.”
Once they do, the Royals will land their cleanup hitter and right fielder, and Sanders will join his eighth team in nine seasons.
Sanders, 38, had been out of the Royals’ plans despite being among the first free agents to visit Kansas City. He was seeking a three-year deal, and the Royals’ offer was for two seasons.
Once Jacque Jones signed with the Cubs and Kenny Lofton with the Dodgers, both sides were compelled to reopen negotiations. Powers and Royals general manager Allard Baird spoke until about 3 a.m. today hammering out details, which still need to be finalized before Sanders signs the contract.
Sanders was on his way to the best season of his career with St. Louis last year before a broken foot sidelined him for almost two months. In 93 games, he batted .271 with 21 home runs, 54 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.
A free swinger, Sanders has struck out more than 100 times in nine seasons. He was an All-Star in 1995 with Cincinnati, where he played the first eight seasons of his career. Since then, Sanders has been with San Diego, Atlanta, Arizona, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and St. Louis.
The common thread: Sanders wins almost everywhere he goes. He got a World Series ring in 2001 with Arizona and has appeared in 14 postseason series and 64 playoff games. His best showing was last season with the Cardinals, when he drove in 10 runs in a three-game sweep of San Diego in the first round of the NL playoffs.