[tk13]

Excerpts from this morning's KC Star....

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13345454.htm

Although the Royals are believed to be the leading contender for Benson, a 31-year-old right-hander, general manager Allard Baird said late Tuesday night that the teams weren’t close to a deal.

Unless they were blown away by a proposed trade, the Royals did not plan on packaging MacDougal and Affeldt together in a deal, a Royals source said.

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Mac really had a hell of a year,” Bell said. “And Affeldt, the last month, was as good as anybody we had.”

Both pitchers were commodities Tuesday. The Royals have discussed a deal including one of the relievers for Toronto second baseman Orlando Hudson. Another proposed deal included a twist: One of the relievers and shortstop Angel Berroa going to Atlanta for one of the Braves’ young corner outfielders — either Kelly Johnson or Ryan Langerhans — and another top prospect. The Braves are also engaged in a deal that would land them Red Sox shortstop Edgar Renteria, according to the Boston Globe.

Still, Baird said, although the Royals began Tuesday in a trading mode, they were back in the free-agent market by the middle of the day.

Bell said the Royals remain interested in outfielder Reggie Sanders. The Royals also are among the final three teams courting outfielder Jacque Jones, along with the Orioles and Mariners.