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As the pool of free-agent outfielders keeps dwindling, the Royals remain determined to play a waiting game in negotiations with Juan Gonzalez and Raul Mondesi.
"As of right now," general manager Allard Baird said, "nothing
has changed."
The only difference from a month ago is the Royals are increasingly likely to turn to rookie David DeJesus if their patience fails to secure either Gonzalez or Mondesi.
The club once had a list of second-tier candidates, including Jose Cruz Jr.
and Jose Guillen, but many of those players signed elsewhere in the last few
days. Baird insists he won't overpay to sign a platoon player to share the role
with Matt Stairs.
That points to DeJesus, who batted .308 last season while splitting time at
Class AAA Omaha, Neb., and Class AA Wichita.
The Royals would prefer that DeJesus, who turns 24 on Saturday, spend next season
playing every day at Omaha in center field to prepare him to replace Carlos
Beltran in 2005.
But Baird and other club officials believe DeJesus could hold his own next season
in the majors, which gives them leverage in their negotiations with Gonzalez
and Mondesi.
"It could be David DeJesus or Dee Brown in left field," Baird said.
"And I'll continue to explore other options. At this point, we would regard
David as the incumbent because of what he's accomplished (in the minors) and
because of the chance to help his development."
The Royals have roughly $3.5 million budgeted for a corner outfielder. That
is in line with what Cruz, Guillen, Reggie Sanders, Carl Everett and Rondell
White received in recent days.
Also, the diminishing market cuts both ways.
It was only last weekend at the winter meetings that Gonzalez's agent, Alan
Nero, said his client had attracted interest from nine clubs. Now, Gonzalez
might have only one or two alternatives to signing with the Royals.
Los Angeles remains interested because it needs bats after scoring fewer runs
than any other team: 17 fewer than the Tigers. The Dodgers' problem is Gonzalez
has a strong preference to remain in the American League.
Boston will need an outfielder if it ever succeeds in shipping Manny Ramirez
to Texas for shortstop Alex Rodriguez, although the Red Sox could fill that
hole by acquiring Magglio Ordonez from the Chicago White Sox for shortstop Nomar
Garciaparra.
If that trade happens, the White Sox will seek to trade Garciaparra to the Dodgers
for pitching help. And if that happens, the White Sox will need a power-hitting
outfielder. Gonzalez would be a good fit.
The market for Mondesi appears even more limited. He is believed to be talking
to just one other club.
• WILSON NEGOTIATIONS: Right-hander Kris Wilson expects to decide today
whether to return to the Royals or become a free agent.
The Royals don't plan to offer arbitration to Wilson, who made $311,000 last
season when he was 6-3 with a 5.33 ERA in 29 games. That means he is virtually
certain to become a free agent if an agreement isn't in place by Saturday's
deadline for tendering contracts.
Wilson, 27, is the club's only non-tender candidate.
"I've been with the Royals since day one," said Wilson, who joined
the organization as a ninth-round pick in the 1997 amateur draft. "I love
the Royals. So I hope something works out."
Wilson spent parts of the last four seasons in the majors but could face a tough
time to keep his spot on next year's roster unless manager Tony Pena opts for
a seven-man bullpen.
"The main thing is opportunity," said Wilson, who is 14-9 in his career
with a 5.32 in 90 games. "Sure, you want money, but what everyone wants
is the opportunity."
• ETC.: Catcher Mike DiFelice, as expected, signed a one-year deal with
Detroit for $650,000. He gets another $25,000 if he appears in 80 or more games.
DiFelice, 34, batted .254 last season for the Royals with three homers and 25
RBIs in 62 games.…
Right-hander Jamey Wright, 30, signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago
Cubs. Wright was 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA for the Royals in four September starts.
He spent most of last season in the minors.…
Royals Charities topped $1 million in disbursements over the last two years
by making donations to 11 non-profit organizations in its Winter 2003 Grant
Program. The following agencies received winter grants: American Eagle Festival,
Inc.; Abby's Run for the Heart; Athletes in Action; Boy Scouts of America; Fellowship
of Christian Athletes; Guadalupe Centers, Inc.; Harvesters Community Food Network;
Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey; Marine Toys for Tots Foundation; Operation
Breakthrough, Inc.; and Project Warmth.