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Right-hander Kris Wilson will not be offered a contract before today's 5 p.m. deadline but still seems likely to return next season to the Royals.
Wilson, 27, will officially become a free agent once the deadline passes, but
he and the club intend to continue negotiations on a minor-league deal.
Wilson even predicted, "I will be back with the Royals."
The Royals extended contract offers Friday to everyone else on their major-league
roster.
Two players, outfielder Carlos Beltran and pitcher Darrell May, are eligible
for arbitration if they fail to reach agreement on a new deal. Everyone else
not previously under contract can be renewed at a salary of the club's choosing
in March.
Wilson made $311,000 last season when he was 6-3 with a 5.33 ERA in 29 games
as a long reliever and spot starter. He is 14-9 with a 5.32 ERA in 90 games
over the last four seasons.
"We hope to sign him to a minor-league contract," Royals general manager
Allard Baird said. "I'm very optimistic that we're going to be able to
get something done."
• MINICAMP PLANNED: The Royals hope to get a jump on next season by staging
a voluntary minicamp from Jan. 28 to Feb. 5 at the club's training complex in
Salcedo, Dominican Republic.
At this point, the club anticipates 17 players will attend, primarily pitchers
and catchers.
"Benito Santiago said he wanted to attend," Baird said of the veteran
catcher who recently signed a two-year contract.
"That really surprised me, but I think it says something about his commitment
to winning."
Manager Tony Pena said he hopes to get an early read on the readiness of several
pitchers who are returning from surgery — notably Miguel Asencio, Kevin
Appier and Kyle Snyder. All three are candidates for the starting rotation.
Participation in the minicamp must be voluntary under guidelines of baseball's
labor agreement.
The minicamp is also designed to allow pitchers to build up their arm strength
in controlled surroundings before spring training opens Feb. 20 in Surprise,
Ariz. That should allow an earlier decision regarding left-hander Jeremy Affeldt's
possible return to the rotation,
Affeldt made 18 starts last season before a persistent problem with blisters
on his middle finger forced him to the bullpen in late July.
• DAVENPORT PROMOTED: Traveling secretary Jeff Davenport received a title
promotion from manager of team travel to director of team travel in recognition
of his performance.
Davenport is entering his fourth season in the position and fifth with the Royals.
He is a former minor-league catcher who was the club's hitting coach in 2000
at short-season Spokane, Wash.
• HOMETOWN DISCOUNT: Want an idea of how much money third baseman Joe
Randa, who turned 34 on Thursday, left on the table to remain with the Royals?
Consider this: Seattle, which expressed interest in Randa, recently signed Scott
Spiezio for three years at $9 million. Randa is guaranteed no more than one
year and $3.75 million — $3.25 million next year and a club option for
$3.25 million in 2005 that includes a $500,000 buyout.
The Royals, before signing Randa, once had Spiezio on their list of possible
replacements. So check the numbers and decide which player offers a better value.
Spiezio, 31, batted .265 last season with 69 runs, 16 homers and 83 RBIs in
158 games. Randa batted .291 with 80, 16 and 72 in 131 games.
Spiezio is a .261 career hitter in eight major-league seasons. Over the last
five years, he has 284 runs, 66 homers and 301 RBIs in 662 games. Randa, a nine-year
veteran, is a .286 career hitter, and his totals for the last five years include
382 runs, 71 homers and 425 RBIs in 747 games.
Spiezio also spent much of the last few years at first base. He played just
52 games last season at third. In contrast, Randa led all major-league third
basemen last season in fielding percentage.