tk13
06-28-2003, 02:03 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/6187937.htm
Royals now thinking of trying to re-sign Randa
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
It now appears third baseman Joe Randa might not be in his final season with the Royals after all.
The club is reconsidering its position on Randa, who becomes a free agent after the season, because it still has no top-grade replacement prospect above low-level Class A and sees few affordable, ready-now players available in the trading market.
"I wouldn't rule out anything at this point," general manager Allard Baird said, "but as we look to next year, anything we do is going to have to fit within the framework of what our payroll will be.
"And that payroll has yet to be determined."
Although the Royals publicly do not say they've changed their minds about Randa, they at least acknowledge he might be here next year.
The Royals and Randa once seemed certain to part because of salary considerations. In fact, the Royals thought they had him traded during the off-season until club president Dan Glass vetoed the deal.
Randa, 33, is making $4.5 million this season in concluding a two-year, $8.5 million extension signed before the 2001 season.
While a final budget is probably months away, Baird is likely to be working with a major-league payroll of $40 million-$43 million for the 2004 season. The current payroll is about $40.8 million on a budget of $37 million.
"They haven't said anything to me," said Randa, who has often expressed a desire to remain with the Royals because he makes his year-round home in Kansas City.
"Of course, I'd always be interested in listening. But I think they're so focused on other things that are going on."
Help from within is probably at least two years away. Damaso Espino, 20, is the organization's top prospect among third basemen, but he is playing at Class A Burlington.
As a result, the Royals show a growing willingness to hold on to Randa, whom they nearly traded last December to the Cubs for two low-level prospects.
"Obviously, things have changed," Randa said. "Some of that is because of the way we've played. The direction of this team has changed. But you know, things may change again in three weeks. That's the way this game is."
Even so, club officials say Randa is forcing them to re-evaluate their position because of his play.
"Last year, he had a tough time going left to right (on defense)," manager Tony Pena said. "This year, I see a third baseman with above-average range.
"That's what you're looking for in a third baseman. And he's catching everything he gets to."
Bench coach Bob Schaefer, who works with infielders, believes Randa is better conditioned from taking a greater number of ground balls on a regular basis.
"Fielding ground balls is the best conditioner in baseball," Schaefer said. "It's better than running or anything you can do. He's a lot better player this year than he was last year."
Randa's hitting brings a greater mix of reviews.
Some believe his bat speed is down, and his .247 average before Friday's game against the Cardinals was 36 points below his career mark of .283.
Others say Randa merely had a bad May, when he batted .152, and point to his .296 average in June as proof.
"By the end of the season," Pena predicted, "Joe is going to end up hitting .280 with 80 RBIs. There's no doubt."
In the meantime, Baird agrees he has greater priorities, two in particular, as the July 31 trading deadline begins to appear on the horizon:
• Finding a reliable middle reliever to solidify the club's erratic bullpen.
• Seeing whether any team will meet his price for center fielder Carlos Beltran. Baird still wants two blue-chip young players who are ready to contribute to the major-league club by next season at the latest.
That's a high price in today's market, particularly since Beltran is eligible for free-agency after next season.
Baird is further hindered by club policy that prevents any deal requiring the Royals to eat a portion of Beltran's $6 million salary. That directive hampered efforts last winter to trade Randa.
The Royals still cite an impact young third baseman as their top priority in any trade involving Beltran. But there are few good enough to serve as the cornerstone in such a deal.
Club officials, before the season, placed Hank Blalock of the Rangers and Miguel Cabrera of the Marlins atop their wish list. Neither is likely to be available.
Randa's future with the Royals almost certainly depends on what happens with Beltran, even if the Royals can't swing a deal that lands a young third baseman in return.
When Beltran is traded, either before the deadline or in the coming off-season -- and club officials still say when not if -- the payroll savings from his departure will be used in the effort to sign left fielder Raul Ibanez and fill other holes.
Baseball insiders suggest Beltran's salary is likely to jump to $9.5 million in 2004. That money, in theory, should be sufficient for the Royals to make competitive bids to retain Ibanez and Randa.
Royals officials are already thinking in terms of a multiyear deal for Ibanez, who makes $3 million this summer and is also eligible for free-agency after the season.
But Randa, at this point, appears unlikely to receive a multiyear offer. It's also uncertain whether the Royals are willing to match his current salary in a one-year contract.
Randa said he hasn't yet determined what sort of deal he wants in what could be the last major contract of his career.
"I just don't have any answers," he said. "I'm just really focused on what's going on right now.
"But the chance to stay here? If it's there, that's positive."
Royals now thinking of trying to re-sign Randa
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
It now appears third baseman Joe Randa might not be in his final season with the Royals after all.
The club is reconsidering its position on Randa, who becomes a free agent after the season, because it still has no top-grade replacement prospect above low-level Class A and sees few affordable, ready-now players available in the trading market.
"I wouldn't rule out anything at this point," general manager Allard Baird said, "but as we look to next year, anything we do is going to have to fit within the framework of what our payroll will be.
"And that payroll has yet to be determined."
Although the Royals publicly do not say they've changed their minds about Randa, they at least acknowledge he might be here next year.
The Royals and Randa once seemed certain to part because of salary considerations. In fact, the Royals thought they had him traded during the off-season until club president Dan Glass vetoed the deal.
Randa, 33, is making $4.5 million this season in concluding a two-year, $8.5 million extension signed before the 2001 season.
While a final budget is probably months away, Baird is likely to be working with a major-league payroll of $40 million-$43 million for the 2004 season. The current payroll is about $40.8 million on a budget of $37 million.
"They haven't said anything to me," said Randa, who has often expressed a desire to remain with the Royals because he makes his year-round home in Kansas City.
"Of course, I'd always be interested in listening. But I think they're so focused on other things that are going on."
Help from within is probably at least two years away. Damaso Espino, 20, is the organization's top prospect among third basemen, but he is playing at Class A Burlington.
As a result, the Royals show a growing willingness to hold on to Randa, whom they nearly traded last December to the Cubs for two low-level prospects.
"Obviously, things have changed," Randa said. "Some of that is because of the way we've played. The direction of this team has changed. But you know, things may change again in three weeks. That's the way this game is."
Even so, club officials say Randa is forcing them to re-evaluate their position because of his play.
"Last year, he had a tough time going left to right (on defense)," manager Tony Pena said. "This year, I see a third baseman with above-average range.
"That's what you're looking for in a third baseman. And he's catching everything he gets to."
Bench coach Bob Schaefer, who works with infielders, believes Randa is better conditioned from taking a greater number of ground balls on a regular basis.
"Fielding ground balls is the best conditioner in baseball," Schaefer said. "It's better than running or anything you can do. He's a lot better player this year than he was last year."
Randa's hitting brings a greater mix of reviews.
Some believe his bat speed is down, and his .247 average before Friday's game against the Cardinals was 36 points below his career mark of .283.
Others say Randa merely had a bad May, when he batted .152, and point to his .296 average in June as proof.
"By the end of the season," Pena predicted, "Joe is going to end up hitting .280 with 80 RBIs. There's no doubt."
In the meantime, Baird agrees he has greater priorities, two in particular, as the July 31 trading deadline begins to appear on the horizon:
• Finding a reliable middle reliever to solidify the club's erratic bullpen.
• Seeing whether any team will meet his price for center fielder Carlos Beltran. Baird still wants two blue-chip young players who are ready to contribute to the major-league club by next season at the latest.
That's a high price in today's market, particularly since Beltran is eligible for free-agency after next season.
Baird is further hindered by club policy that prevents any deal requiring the Royals to eat a portion of Beltran's $6 million salary. That directive hampered efforts last winter to trade Randa.
The Royals still cite an impact young third baseman as their top priority in any trade involving Beltran. But there are few good enough to serve as the cornerstone in such a deal.
Club officials, before the season, placed Hank Blalock of the Rangers and Miguel Cabrera of the Marlins atop their wish list. Neither is likely to be available.
Randa's future with the Royals almost certainly depends on what happens with Beltran, even if the Royals can't swing a deal that lands a young third baseman in return.
When Beltran is traded, either before the deadline or in the coming off-season -- and club officials still say when not if -- the payroll savings from his departure will be used in the effort to sign left fielder Raul Ibanez and fill other holes.
Baseball insiders suggest Beltran's salary is likely to jump to $9.5 million in 2004. That money, in theory, should be sufficient for the Royals to make competitive bids to retain Ibanez and Randa.
Royals officials are already thinking in terms of a multiyear deal for Ibanez, who makes $3 million this summer and is also eligible for free-agency after the season.
But Randa, at this point, appears unlikely to receive a multiyear offer. It's also uncertain whether the Royals are willing to match his current salary in a one-year contract.
Randa said he hasn't yet determined what sort of deal he wants in what could be the last major contract of his career.
"I just don't have any answers," he said. "I'm just really focused on what's going on right now.
"But the chance to stay here? If it's there, that's positive."