Royals close to signing Reggie Sanders

[tk13]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5...0813162&ATT=49

Royals close to landing Sanders
Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com
Posted: 3 hours ago

The Royals, continuing their effort to add established veterans, are closing on a two-year deal with free-agent outfielder Reggie Sanders for approximately $10 million, FOXSports.com has learned.

Sanders, 38, is expected to play left field for the Royals, who earlier this week signed first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, right-handed starter Scott Elarton and backup catcher Paul Bako.

Several teams, including the Dodgers, were reluctant to give Sanders a multi-year deal. But the Royals, after losing out to the Cubs for free-agent outfielder Jacque Jones, valued Sanders' leadership as well as his production.

The Royals will be Sanders' eighth team in the past nine seasons. He spent the past two years as a regular with the Cardinals, reaching the World Series in 2004 and National League Championship Series in '05.

Sanders was leading the postseason with 12 RBIs last October when he suffered neck and back injuries after an awkward spill in the outfield in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.

During the regular season, he missed nearly two months after suffering a broken bone in his right leg in a collision with Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds. But for the most part he has been durable, averaging 26 homers over the past five seasons.

A career .267 hitter, Sanders is eight homers short of 300.

[beavis]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Perish the thought.........

Actually, I'd be good with some REAL improvement. Good production from their starters, seeing the young'ns develop, winning close games and getting 75 wins. They do that, and have Butler, Gordon, Lubanski, Huber & Howell ready for the start of 07, and I'm good to go as a fan.

I'm with you there. Eliminate the stupid errors, and at least show us the team is moving in the right direction.

[shakesthecat]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Perish the thought.........

Actually, I'd be good with some REAL improvement. Good production from their starters, seeing the young'ns develop, winning close games and getting 75 wins. They do that, and have Butler, Gordon, Lubanski, Huber & Howell ready for the start of 07, and I'm good to go as a fan.

Yep.
Is it too early to get excited about September call-ups yet?

[bkkcoh]

Originally Posted by beavis

I'm with you there. Eliminate the stupid errors, and at least show us the team is moving in the right direction.

You have got that right.

If the team looks like it is headed in the right direction and goes through growing pains, the area will support it.

However, if the team doesn't improve on the basics, they will want to help the Royals pack and get the heck out of town.

[ChiefsCountry]

Man we are becoming St. Louser West with all these ex-Redturds on the team.

[shakesthecat]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Man we are becoming St. Louser West with all these ex-Redturds on the team.

Heh
The Cardzification of the Royals continues.....

[tk13]

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.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Man we are becoming St. Louser West with all these ex-Redturds on the team.

Heck, at this point, our outfield might give their outfield a run for their money. I'm not even sure who their two corner OF'ers are supposed to be. John Rodriguez and Larry Bigbie? John Gall maybe? That doesn't even include that they'll probably have Hector Luna/Aaron Miles playing 2nd and their bullpen has been gutted. Cards are gonna look waaaay different next year, it'll be interesting to see how well they do, I have no idea.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by tk13

Heck, at this point, our outfield might give their outfield a run for their money. I'm not even sure who their two corner OF'ers are supposed to be. John Rodriguez and Larry Bigbie? John Gall maybe? That doesn't even include that they'll probably have Hector Luna/Aaron Miles playing 2nd and their bullpen has been gutted. Cards are gonna look waaaay different next year, it'll be interesting to see how well they do, I have no idea.

Yeah, the Cards will be not as good as they have been in the past. But Jocketty will make some big move at the trade deadline that nobody will expect.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Yeah, the Cards will be not as good as they have been in the past. But Jocketty will make some big move at the trade deadline that nobody will expect.

Yeah, he usually has some card up his sleeve. He may be one of the best GM's in pro sports at not showing his hand... out of nowhere, blammo, they'll add a Larry Walker or Mark Mulder. Nobody sees it coming. You'd think they'd have to add at least one corner OF. I don't know what Cards fans think about their offseason, I imagine some of them are upset with the fact they're coming off an outstanding attendance season and moving into a brand new really nice ballpark, and they've been kinda thrifty and let a bunch of guys walk.

[phisherman]

just heard on 610, neal jones said that sanders agreed to a deal w/ the royals

bp

[ChiTown]

I want to be excited about this signing (Sanders), but a 38 yr old OF (making $5MM/yr) who strikes out a ton, just doesn't do it for me. I'm trying real hard to see how this is a great move, but I just don't get it.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

I want to be excited about this signing (Sanders), but a 38 yr old OF (making $5MM/yr) who strikes out a ton, just doesn't do it for me. I'm trying real hard to see how this is a great move, but I just don't get it.

I like it. I don't think it's the greatest move ever but it's not a bad one. It's less years than Jones, and we don't have to give up a draft pick. I think Reggie can give us 20 homers/15 steals. The strikeouts don't really bother me because he's supposed to be a middle of the order guy anyway. Obviously I'd like him to walk more, but he's got some pop. I'd rather he strike out than hit into a bunch of double plays and kill rallies the typical Royal way, and Reggie doesn't do that. He's actually never grounded into more than 10 double plays in a season.

[StcChief]

Every team Sanders goes to gets in playoffs. Check his stats.

This streak will end with Royals.

[shakesthecat]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

I want to be excited about this signing (Sanders), but a 38 yr old OF (making $5MM/yr) who strikes out a ton, just doesn't do it for me. I'm trying real hard to see how this is a great move, but I just don't get it.

The fact that Terrence Long isn't playing OF for KC this year is worth 5M alone, IMO.

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by nm_dbf

Every team Sanders goes to gets in playoffs. Check his stats.

This streak will end with Royals.

From the article below:

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.

I have noticed the last several years that it doesn't seem to matter where he is playing, the team goes to the post season. Why this is, who knows but it has to be encouraging for Royals fans.