Royals official: No agreement yet with Aaron Crow

A top Royals official said no agreement has been reached yet with the club’s No. 1 draft pick of 2009, right-handed pitcher Aaron Crow.

That came after a report by ESPN’s Buster Olney that Crow was on the verge of signing a Major League deal that would pay him between $3 million and $4.5 million.

“Apparently Buster Olney knows something we don’t know,” said J.J. Picollo, Royals assistant general manager-scouting and player development.

“There’s nothing to report on, there’s no confirmed deal or anything. We’ve picked up the talks with them the last couple of days and that’s about it. We’re working at it.”

But Picollo said the Royals are pushing to get something done on Thursday or Friday so that Crow could begin play in the Arizona Instructional League which opens on Monday. Crow is represented by the Hendricks brothers of Houston.

“I’ve maintained all along that we’re going to work a deal out, it’s a matter of when. But I think it’ll work itself out. I’ve never lost faith in this whole thing,” Picollo said.

Crow, from the University of Missouri and Wakarusa, Kan., was the 12th overall pick in this year’s First-Year Player Draft. He was drafted in 2008 by the Washington Nationals but did not sign, reportedly turning down a $3.5 million offer.

He was not subject to the Aug. 17 signing deadline this year because he had played independent pro ball and had no college eligibility remaining. Major League Baseball ruled that he and first-round supplemental pick Tanner Scheppers were exempt.

That relieved the Royals of deadline stress – they had gone to the final minutes to sign 2007 first-round pick Mike Moustakas and 2008 first-round Eric Hosmer – and negotiations with Crow continued.

In 2008 for Missouri, Crow was the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year and a Golden Spikes Award finalist after going 13-0 with a 2.35 ERA in 15 starts. He had 127 strikeouts and logged 43 consecutive scoreless innings that season.

He throws a mid-90s fastball and a sharp slider.

So the negotiations are continuing and Instructional League players are to report to Surprise, Ariz., on Sunday and begin play on Monday.

“Once there’s a yes, I think things will happen fast because they know we have a timetable to work with,” Picollo said.
–Dick Kaegel

No trip to St. Loo leaves a void in 2010 schedule

For folks who enjoyed traveling to St. Louis for the Royals’ annual invasion of Mound City, there’s a void in 2010. No trip to Busch Stadium on the schedule for the first time since 2005.

Instead, the Royals’ National League road games will be at Cincinnati, Atlanta and Washington, not exactly just down the Interstate.

The Cardinals have never seemed real attached to having Kansas City come in. The games really don’t cause the same sparks that they do in Kansas City. Maybe St. Louis is still glum over 1985, the mere sight of Royals uniforms reminding Cardinals fans of that World Series loss.

All three KC at St. Loo games this year were sellouts but these days the Cardinals can sell out almost any game. Next year, though, they’ll have the challenge of marketing the A’s and the Mariners, their AL visitors along with the Angels.

At least the Cardinals will be in Cowtown next year. Too bad about the St. Louis omission for KC folks, though.

— Dick Kaegel

Hillman pleased with Moores latest endorsement

For the first time since general manager Dayton Moore once again said that Trey Hillman was his choice as manager for 2010, the skipper himself was back in the dugout on Friday. He’s been away for four days for his father-in-law’s funeral.

Moore noted last Monday, as he discussed his own extension by the Royals through 2014, that he was pleased with Hillman’s job. Moore had already said several times this summer that Hillman would return next year. And Hillman again responded happily.

“I’ve said it several times but it’s very nice to have a boss that believes in you,” Hillman said. “Believes in your track record, believes in what you do here regardless of what the record is this season.

“I don’t think anybody could have ever imagined it would be as challenging as it has been with some of the things that have happened this season but it’s not anything I lose any sleep over.”

No surprise, considering Moore’s continuous endorsements, that Hillman was pleased about his boss’ contract extension.

“Whether I’m here or not, I’m happy for the organization because it provides stability at the top and that’s what this organization needs,” he said.

–Dick Kaegel

Meche scratched from start; Tejeda to face Angels

Gil Meche has been scratched as the Royals’ starter on Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Reliever Robinson Tejeda was named to replace him.

Meche has a fatigued right shoulder, the Royals reported. He had been bothered by back problems earlier and was slow coming around since being activated from the disabled list. In his four starts since returning he had a 2-1 record with one no-decision and an ERA of 8.14. Meche lost his last game at Seattle, surrendering seven runs in four innings.

This will be Tejeda’s first start this season but the 48th of his career. He’s made 29 relief appearances this year with a 1-1 record and 4.07 ERA. In his last four games, he’s strung together 7 2/3 shutout innings and given up just one hit.

— Dick Kaegel

Royals extend GM Moores contract through 2014

The Royals extended general manager Dayton Moore’s contract through 2014, the club announced on Monday.

Moore exercised his option for 2011 and the Royals added 2012, 2013 and 2014 to the deal. Terms were not disclosed.

“Although it has been a disappointing season,” said Royals president Dan Glass, “I believe we are heading in the right direction and Dayton is an important part of the process.”

The extension comes with the Royals in last place in the American League Central with a 50-80 record going into a series with Oakland A’s on Monday night. The team had been projected to possibly approach the .500 mark but has been hit by injuries and some subpar performances.

Moore was hired as senior vice president-baseball operations and general manager on May 30, 2006, succeeding Allard Baird. The 2006 team lost 100 games but improved to 69-93 in 2007 and 75-87 in 2008.

The extension makes it clear that the Glass family, headed by owner David Glass, is satisfied with the moves that Moore has made in the last three-plus years.

— Dick Kaegel

Mahay designated for assignment; Yabuta recalled

Left-hander Ron Mahay, senior member of the Royals, was designated for assignment on Monday and right-hander Yasuhiko Yabuta was called up from Triple-A Omaha to replace him.

Mahay, 38, had a 1-1 record and 4.79 ERA in 41 relief appearances this season, his second with the Royals. Last year he went 5-0 with a 3.48 ERA in 57 games.

Yabuta has spent the entire season with Omaha, going 2-1 with a 3.55 ERA in 26 games. He had 53 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings.

Yabuta was signed out of the Japan League before the 2008 season but struggled and spent part of the summer with Omaha. He was 1-3 with a 4.78 ERA in 31 games last year for Kansas City

–Dick Kaegel.

Eddie Rodriguez in global spotlight with Team USA

Good to see a good guy, Eddie Rodriguez, get the managerial job for the USA in next month’s World Cup competition.

He’s the Royals’ special assignments coach, his first year at the job but he’s been a Major League coach for a long time, including three years as Frank Robinson’s bench coach with the Montreal Expos. He’s played, coached and instructed in the Minor Leagues so he’s well qualified for the job given him by USA Baseball.

“I got a call in Boston and they wanted to know if I was interested, I was one of the finalists to be the manager,” he said.

Rodriguez was interested and USA Baseball got permission from the Royals to give him leave during September for the international competition. His team starts play on Sept. 10, playing Venezuela at Regensburg, Germany.

“It always looks good on the resume but, to me, it’s the honor. The same it was in Sydney, representing our country and representing it well and having players from different organizations and bringing them together in a short time – and bring back the medal,” he said.

Rodriguez was a coach on the 2000 U.S. Olympic team that won the gold medal at Sydney.

He’ll have ex-Royals player and coach Jamie Quirk as his bench and third-base coach. Only players not on active Major League rosters can play in the World Cup competition. The one player from the Royals’ organization who is on the preliminary 60-man roster is infielder Tug Hulett, now with Triple-A Omaha.

— Dick Kaegel

Ponson is officially a free agent

This isn’t exactly breaking news but, officially, Sir Sidney Ponson became a free agent on Wednesday.

We reported last Sunday that he had  been released by the Royals. Now the paper work is done. General manager Dayton Moore told us that Ponson decided against considering a stint with Triple-A Omaha and will take his chances elsewhere

Ponson was just 1-7 and his ERA was 7.36 when the Royals designated him for assignment. Manager Trey Hillman liked his stuff and his work ethic was reported to be good but he just wasn’t getting the job done.

The Royals, by the way, will have to make a roster move on Thursday morning to clear the way for Gil Meche’s return off the disabled list. He’ll start Thursday afternoon at Minnesota.

–Dick Kaegel

Ponson designated, Davies recalled from Omaha

Pitcher Sidney Ponson was designated for assignment by the Royals on Sunday and Kyle Davies was being recalled to take his spot in the rotation.

Ponson had a 1-7 record and a 7.36 ERA in 14 games including nine starts for the Royals. In his last start on Friday night, he was tagged for seven runs in 4 1/3 innings by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Davies, since being optioned to Triple-A Omaha on June 20, had a 4-2 record and a 2.14 ERA in eight starts. In 46 1/3 innings, he gave up 47 hits and 14 walks with 44 strikeouts. For the Royals this season, Davies was 3-7 with a 5.76 ERA in 14 starts.

The change means that Davies will start on Wednesday night against the Seattle Mariners in Kansas City.

The Royals have 10 days in which to put Ponson on waivers, trade or release him. Manager Trey Hillman indicated that, if he clears waivers, the Royals would offer Ponson a spot at Omaha.

–Dick Kaegel

No surprise but no deals on Deadline Day

Despite all the tantalizing hints that the Royals could make a deal before the Trade Deadline, predictably nothing happened on Friday.

On the last day, pitcher Brian Bannister became the apparently most delectable item on the Royals’ menu. He was pursued by the Brewers (according to Fox Sports), the Marlins (South Florida Sun-Sentienl) and the Yankees (ESPN.com). If anything of that was true, obviously nobody came up with a good enough proposal. For the Royals to trade Bannister, who has just developed into a very reliable Major League pitcher, would be weakening the one big strength of the club — starting pitching.

The one move before the deadline was the purchase of center fielder Josh Anderson from the Tigers. That should help restore some of the speed and defense the Royals lost when Coco Crisp went out for the season.

Now comes the period where players can be traded only after clearing waivers. One possibility there is left-hander Ron Mahay. He’s almost sure to clear waivers and he’s a versatile veteran who’s been under-used by the Royals. At 38, he can still pitch and could be useful for a contender needing a lefty down the stretch. The acquiring club, though, would have to pick up what remains of his $4 million salary..

— Dick Kaegel