Royals close to signing Reggie Sanders - Page 5

tk13 · 12-22-2005, 04:04 AM

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.

Pitt Gorilla · 12-23-2005, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halfcan

With all the high draft picks we have gotten in the last decade-you would think we would have a replacement before we let our last two AllStar Center fielders walk. .

Uh, we do. Have you seen DeJesus play?

Halfcan · 12-23-2005, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Uh, we do. Have you seen DeJesus play?

I am not impressed yet, but hopefully he will come around and get a big payday with another club when we let him walk.

Sure-Oz · 12-23-2005, 01:09 AM

dejesus is solid, i just wish he had more speed, hes like a boggs.

tk13 · 12-23-2005, 02:37 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13470174.htm

Royals add to the list
Veteran outfielder is latest free agent in KC’s lineup
By JEFF PASSAN
The Kansas City Star

And now, in the Royals’ offseason of change, comes this doozy: They’re actually outbidding teams for free agents.

Outfielder Reggie Sanders is the latest player impressed not only by the Royals’ checkbook but also by their plans for the future. Sanders said Thursday that he has agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract that is expected to be signed today.

General manager Allard Baird would not comment on the agreement, as the Royals are still awaiting results from Sanders’ physical taken Thursday afternoon in Arizona.

Sanders said he turned down an offer from potential playoff contender Cleveland to come to Kansas City, where he probably will play right field and bat cleanup behind Mike Sweeney.

“The Royals stepped up to the plate and did what they had to do,” Sanders said. “Other teams were close. But the Royals went a little further.”

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’ best offer was for two seasons.

Turned out that was good enough. Once Jacque Jones signed with the Cubs and Kenny Lofton with the Dodgers, both sides were compelled to reopen negotiations. Sanders’ agent, Mike Powers, and Baird spoke until about 3 a.m. Thursday hammering out the contract, which will pay Sanders $5 million this season and $5 million in 2007.

“They had a game plan,” Sanders said. “Kansas City wined and dined me at the beginning. We sat down for a good three hours talking about where they’re going and what they’re trying to do. I needed to be the last piece of the puzzle. If I sign early, I’m left out to dry, no matter how much money I’m making. Now I see they got (Mark Grudzielanek), they got all these guys.”

Indeed, the Royals have spent generously in an effort to restock a team that lost 106 games last season. Emboldened by owner David Glass earmarking at least $22 million to upgrade the team, the Royals have added Sanders, Grudzielanek at second base, starting pitchers Scott Elarton and Mark Redman, first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, reliever Elmer Dessens and catcher Paul Bako for $21.75 million.

Sanders was on his way to the best season of his career last year with St. Louis before a broken bone in his leg sidelined him for almost two months. In 93 games, he batted .271 with 21 home runs, 54 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.

Injuries have troubled Sanders throughout his 15-year career. He has played more than 130 games only seven times, and his career high was 140 in 2002. After driving in 10 runs during a three-game sweep of San Diego in the first round of the playoffs last season, Sanders landed awkwardly diving for a ball in the NL Championship Series and hadn’t fully recovered from the whiplash until the offseason.

“I couldn’t lie on my back. I couldn’t sit down,” Sanders said. “Now I have no problems with it.”

Sanders’ lone problem with Kansas City was its league. Never before has he played in the American League, and with his family so familiar with the cities in the NL, Sanders was concerned. So his wife, Wyndee, spoke with Dana Suppan, wife of former Royal Jeff Suppan, and Sanders was OK with joining former teammates Grudzielanek, Matt Stairs and Emil Brown.

After all, Sanders is baseball’s biggest nomad. The Royals are his eighth team in nine seasons, after Cincinnati, 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. And Sanders said he wouldn’t have signed with the Royals unless he envisioned similar success.

“If it’s meant to be, it will,” Sanders said. “And it was meant to be.”

■ SAY HEY, MAYS: The Royals have offered right-handed starter Joe Mays a major-league contract and view him as a potential fifth starter.
“We do have interest in him,” Baird said.

Mays’ best season was in 2001, when he went 17-13 with a 3.16 ERA. Last year, he went 6-10 with a 5.65 ERA with the Twins.

■ NO DEAL: Two teams have inquired about trading for Royals center fielder David DeJesus this week. Safe to say, he’s not going anywhere.
“He’s been popular,” Baird said of DeJesus, who turned 26 this week. “I’ll listen on anybody. But realistically, and this shouldn’t surprise you, he fits in our direction.”

One team also asked about shortstop Angel Berroa and got the same response.

■ OUTFIELD SURPLUS: If the Royals do make a trade, it could come from their outfield, a spot of decent depth once Sanders is signed.

Matt Stairs, with a desirable salary of $1.35 million, probably will lose at-bats considering Mientkiewicz and Sanders will be starting. Even Brown, expected to start in left field, could be a possibility if the Royals acquire a younger outfielder.

“Right now, I’m in an add mode, not a subtract,” Baird said. “I’m trying to add to this team.”

----------------------------------------------------------

Mecca · 12-23-2005, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Vlad is right-Yes Sanders had a great playoff series-But he is old, and will likely get hurt again. I for one, am tired of hearing about the so-called youth movement-yet we bring in guys like JaunGone, Bennie Santiago, and now Sanders. With all the high draft picks we have gotten in the last decade-you would think we would have a replacement before we let our last two AllStar Center fielders walk.

The Yankees have to pay almost as much in a luxury tax as our whole payrole. This club does not have any plan for the future, leadership, talent, and is a disgrace to the city. I grew up loving the Royals and am very bitter that this club has been run into the ground.

Comparing Sanders to those guys is funny. They are not even close to the same kind of guys. You're completely missing the point of this free agent market is terrible and the money being thrown around is ridiculous. There were basically no outfielders this year, Reggie Sanders is a better player than Jacque Jones is.

Some people don't know what they want. You can't have a team of all young players, it doesn't work.

DaWolf · 12-23-2005, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Some people don't know what they want. You can't have a team of all young players, it doesn't work.

Thank you. That's exactly the thing. It's one thing to do a youth movement, it's another thing to throw them all in there when they're not ready. Guys like JP Howell and Bautista and these guys jut need more seasoning in the minors before they're ready. This way we can take our time with our pitchers, with Huber, with gordon, with Lubanski, with Butler, without having to worry about a veteran guy being entrenched forever in front of them. These vets are all 1-2 year contracts, giving our guys plenty of time to develop and meanwhile giving our current young guys a corp of players who they can play with and learn how to (theoretically0 be successful with...

shakesthecat · 12-23-2005, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaWolf

Thank you. That's exactly the thing. It's one thing to do a youth movement, it's another thing to throw them all in there when they're not ready. Guys like JP Howell and Bautista and these guys jut need more seasoning in the minors before they're ready. This way we can take our time with our pitchers, with Huber, with gordon, with Lubanski, with Butler, without having to worry about a veteran guy being entrenched forever in front of them. These vets are all 1-2 year contracts, giving our guys plenty of time to develop and meanwhile giving our current young guys a corp of players who they can play with and learn how to (theoretically0 be successful with...

Bingo.
I'm not sure why this concept is so difficult for some here to grasp.

Oh wait, it's because they're morans. I keep forgetting.

Mecca · 12-23-2005, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakesthecat

Bingo.
I'm not sure why this concept is so difficult for some here to grasp.

Oh wait, it's because they're morans. I keep forgetting.

Because some people will never be happy with what the Royals do. They expect them to go sign guys like A.J. Burnett. When the Royals sign guys jumping in with "I thought this was suppose to be a youth movement" gets really old after awhile. If you don't have a player for the position and no one ready in the minors. It's better to sign a player for a couple of years than rushing someone to the majors.

shakesthecat · 12-23-2005, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Because some people will never be happy with what the Royals do. They expect them to go sign guys like A.J. Burnett. When the Royals sign guys jumping in with "I thought this was suppose to be a youth movement" gets really old after awhile. If you don't have a player for the position and no one ready in the minors. It's better to sign a player for a couple of years than rushing someone to the majors.

The "I thought this was supposed to be a youth movement" is all they have left. The "David Glass won't spend any money" card doesn't work right now.

siberian khatru · 12-23-2005, 10:00 AM

Rep to DaWolf and Mecca.

beavis · 12-23-2005, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakesthecat

The "I thought this was supposed to be a youth movement" is all they have left. The "David Glass won't spend any money" card doesn't work right now.

Heh, just wait. peterpuffer will be along in a minute to explain how if the Royals had a $70 million payroll, we'd be in the playoffs every year.

Mecca · 12-23-2005, 11:16 AM

I'm waiting for Halfcan to explain how Eric Warfield is ruining the Royals.....

12-23-2005, 07:41 PM

Quote:

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.

Cardinals signed OF Juan Encarnacion and 2B Junior Spivey today.

JohnnyV13 · 12-23-2005, 08:38 PM

God help me,

I actually do like this signing. This guys been on a lot of winners and goddamn if the Royals don't need someone who knows how winning teams work out and act. And, hopefully, this guy can still get it done on the field so they listen to him.

The only way the little guy can compete in baseball is to get in contention at the trading deadline, then rent high cost players to push you over the top.

And, if we STILL suck, a contender needing a bat is likely to take him off our hands for prospects.

siberian khatru · 12-23-2005, 09:10 PM

Royals signed P Joe Mays.

That's a move I DON'T like, in any way, shape or form.

12-22-2005, 04:04 AM
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1747500	Royals close to signing Reggie Sanders 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.
Posts: 56,653

12-23-2005, 02:37 AM	#64
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1747500	http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13470174.htm Royals add to the list Veteran outfielder is latest free agent in KC’s lineup By JEFF PASSAN The Kansas City Star And now, in the Royals’ offseason of change, comes this doozy: They’re actually outbidding teams for free agents. Outfielder Reggie Sanders is the latest player impressed not only by the Royals’ checkbook but also by their plans for the future. Sanders said Thursday that he has agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract that is expected to be signed today. General manager Allard Baird would not comment on the agreement, as the Royals are still awaiting results from Sanders’ physical taken Thursday afternoon in Arizona. Sanders said he turned down an offer from potential playoff contender Cleveland to come to Kansas City, where he probably will play right field and bat cleanup behind Mike Sweeney. “The Royals stepped up to the plate and did what they had to do,” Sanders said. “Other teams were close. But the Royals went a little further.” 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’ best offer was for two seasons. Turned out that was good enough. Once Jacque Jones signed with the Cubs and Kenny Lofton with the Dodgers, both sides were compelled to reopen negotiations. Sanders’ agent, Mike Powers, and Baird spoke until about 3 a.m. Thursday hammering out the contract, which will pay Sanders $5 million this season and $5 million in 2007. “They had a game plan,” Sanders said. “Kansas City wined and dined me at the beginning. We sat down for a good three hours talking about where they’re going and what they’re trying to do. I needed to be the last piece of the puzzle. If I sign early, I’m left out to dry, no matter how much money I’m making. Now I see they got (Mark Grudzielanek), they got all these guys.” Indeed, the Royals have spent generously in an effort to restock a team that lost 106 games last season. Emboldened by owner David Glass earmarking at least $22 million to upgrade the team, the Royals have added Sanders, Grudzielanek at second base, starting pitchers Scott Elarton and Mark Redman, first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, reliever Elmer Dessens and catcher Paul Bako for $21.75 million. Sanders was on his way to the best season of his career last year with St. Louis before a broken bone in his leg sidelined him for almost two months. In 93 games, he batted .271 with 21 home runs, 54 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Injuries have troubled Sanders throughout his 15-year career. He has played more than 130 games only seven times, and his career high was 140 in 2002. After driving in 10 runs during a three-game sweep of San Diego in the first round of the playoffs last season, Sanders landed awkwardly diving for a ball in the NL Championship Series and hadn’t fully recovered from the whiplash until the offseason. “I couldn’t lie on my back. I couldn’t sit down,” Sanders said. “Now I have no problems with it.” Sanders’ lone problem with Kansas City was its league. Never before has he played in the American League, and with his family so familiar with the cities in the NL, Sanders was concerned. So his wife, Wyndee, spoke with Dana Suppan, wife of former Royal Jeff Suppan, and Sanders was OK with joining former teammates Grudzielanek, Matt Stairs and Emil Brown. After all, Sanders is baseball’s biggest nomad. The Royals are his eighth team in nine seasons, after Cincinnati, 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. And Sanders said he wouldn’t have signed with the Royals unless he envisioned similar success. “If it’s meant to be, it will,” Sanders said. “And it was meant to be.” ■ SAY HEY, MAYS: The Royals have offered right-handed starter Joe Mays a major-league contract and view him as a potential fifth starter. “We do have interest in him,” Baird said. Mays’ best season was in 2001, when he went 17-13 with a 3.16 ERA. Last year, he went 6-10 with a 5.65 ERA with the Twins. ■ NO DEAL: Two teams have inquired about trading for Royals center fielder David DeJesus this week. Safe to say, he’s not going anywhere. “He’s been popular,” Baird said of DeJesus, who turned 26 this week. “I’ll listen on anybody. But realistically, and this shouldn’t surprise you, he fits in our direction.” One team also asked about shortstop Angel Berroa and got the same response. ■ OUTFIELD SURPLUS: If the Royals do make a trade, it could come from their outfield, a spot of decent depth once Sanders is signed. Matt Stairs, with a desirable salary of $1.35 million, probably will lose at-bats considering Mientkiewicz and Sanders will be starting. Even Brown, expected to start in left field, could be a possibility if the Royals acquire a younger outfielder. “Right now, I’m in an add mode, not a subtract,” Baird said. “I’m trying to add to this team.” ----------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 56,653

12-23-2005, 10:00 AM	#70
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $-1215050	Rep to DaWolf and Mecca.
Posts: 71,881

12-23-2005, 11:16 AM	#72
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-572950	I'm waiting for Halfcan to explain how Eric Warfield is ruining the Royals.....
Posts: 115,299

12-23-2005, 08:38 PM	#74
JohnnyV13 Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tucson AZ Casino cash: $5395200	God help me, I actually do like this signing. This guys been on a lot of winners and goddamn if the Royals don't need someone who knows how winning teams work out and act. And, hopefully, this guy can still get it done on the field so they listen to him. The only way the little guy can compete in baseball is to get in contention at the trading deadline, then rent high cost players to push you over the top. And, if we STILL suck, a contender needing a bat is likely to take him off our hands for prospects.
Posts: 4,222

12-23-2005, 09:10 PM	#75
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $-1215050	Royals signed P Joe Mays. That's a move I DON'T like, in any way, shape or form.
Posts: 71,881