Royals Trade Rumors

"The Rockies are interested in left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, if he clears waivers, as the player to be determined in last Wednesday’s trade that brought Ramirez to the Royals. That suggests the Rockies want De La Rosa to pitch in the minors."

"If the Dodgers are interested in utilityman Esteban German, it’s news to the Royals. Foxsports.com reported the Dodgers view German as a potential acquisition target to serve as a backup to second baseman Jeff Kent and third baseman Nomar Garciaparra."

"Scouts for the Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals clustered behind a chain-link fence to watch Ponson's latest reincarnation. A pitcher who once huffed and puffed to muster an 88 mph fastball threw with little obvious effort and significantly more velocity. "I'm throwing nice and free again. I don't have to force anything," Ponson said."

"The rumor mill is churning again with an ESPNdeportes.com report suggesting the Royals are showing renewed interest in free-agent slugger Sammy Sosa. Not true, according to general manager Dayton Moore."

"The Royals appear to be interested in outfielder Kevin Mench. He is a free agent after batting .267 last year for Milwaukee with eight homers and 37 RBIs in 101 games."

"Former Royals captain Mike Sweeney worked out Tuesday for the Padres at Petco Park near his home in San Diego. The Padres are also looking at free agent Tony Clark in the quest to sign a veteran first baseman/pinch hitter."

"Right-hander Bartolo Colon's market is shrinking. After watching him throw in the Dominican, Cleveland backed off. The Mets also are concerned about Colon's health. He was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff in 2006 but opted to rehab and skip surgery. Kansas City and the White Sox are believed to still have interest."

"The Indians were one of several teams that watched former Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon throw recently in the Dominican Republic. After watching him, their interest has waned... Kansas City, the White Sox and Mets have also been scouting Colon."

"An agent for free-agent starting pitching Runelvys Hernandez said Saturday the 29-year-old righthander is close to reaching a one-year deal with the Astros."

"The Royals are close to finalizing a two-year deal with left-handed relief pitcher Ron Mahay worth a reported $8 million. Mahay, 36, was 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA in 58 appearances for Texas and Atlanta last year. If the deal with Kansas City is completed, he’d join Jimmy Gobble, Neal Musser and John Bale as lefties in the Royals’ bullpen — though Bale will get a shot at the rotation."

"The Kansas City Royals have offered Twins free-agent starter Carlos Silva $30 million for three years."

"Outfielder Emil Brown won’t get the chance to lead the Royals in RBIs for a fourth straight year. The club, citing a need for roster flexibility, chose not to offer Brown a contract for 2008 — he was “nontendered” in baseball jargon — before the 11 p.m. Wednesday deadline. The move permits Brown to negotiate with all 30 clubs as a free agent. That includes the Royals, but they show little inclination at this point in retaining Brown — even at a reduced salary."

"All the Royals want from Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda is the chance to make their pitch before he makes a decision. Even if that means a trip to Japan. “I’ll tell you what, I’d go,” said manager Trey Hillman, who is just starting to unpack at his Austin, Texas, home from a five-year tour in Japan with the Nippon Ham Fighters."

"Outfielder Emil Brown won’t get the chance to become the first player in Royals history to lead the team in RBIs for a fourth straight year. The Royals announced Wednesday they would not offer Brown a contract for 2008. The announcement came just hours before the 11 p.m. deadline for doing so and contradicted recent statements by general manager Dayton Moore. The club’s decision means Brown, 32, immediately becomes a free agent. Moore said the Royals would offer contracts to everyone else."

"The Royals are now expected to turn their full attention to pursuing Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, who is also drawing heavy interest from the Mariners, Diamondbacks and Dodgers."

"Veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkins remains on the Royals’ radar, but club officials show little interest in lefty Ron Mahay despite a heavy push from his agents... Sammy Sosa with the Royals? Unlikely. Moore dismissed an ESPNdeportes.com report linking Sosa to the Royals."

"The Royals are now expected to turn their full attention to pursuing Japanese pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, who is also drawing heavy interest from the Mariners, Diamondbacks and Dodgers. Kuroda, 32, spent the last 11 years with the Hiroshima Carp of Japan’s Central League. He was 12-8 with a 3.56 ERA last season in 26 games."

"The Royals are one of at least three teams showing heightened interest in reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who went 2-5 with a 3.42 ERA last season in 62 games for the Rockies. The Rangers and Rockies are also pursuing Hawkins, a 13-year veteran who pitched previously for the Twins, Cubs, Giants and Orioles before signing as a free agent last December with the Rockies."

"The Major League Baseball Players Association is negotiating with MLB officials on a possible 10- to 15-day suspension for outfielder Jose Guillen for his reported involvement in the purchase of steroids and human growth hormone, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Wednesday."

"The Royals are also now better positioned to field trade offers, if they choose, for David DeJesus and Joey Gathright. DeJesus had drawn heavy interest from several clubs, including Texas and Atlanta."

"The Cabrera trade could accelerate talks involving Sox attempts to deal third baseman Joe Crede and perhaps take another shot at free-agent center fielder Aaron Rowand. Williams, however, remained reluctant to give a five-year contract to Rowand, who is entertaining an offer from Kansas City."

"Tampa Bay remains firmly in the mix for free-agent LHP Ron Mahay, who has narrowed his list of serious suitors to the Rays, Yankees, Royals, Giants and Astros. Mahay, 36, split last season between Texas and Atlanta. He probably will command a contract along the lines of the three-year, $12 million deal J.C. Romero got from the Phillies last month."

"Outfielder Jose Guillen and the Kansas City Royals have reached a preliminary agreement for a three year, $36 million deal, a relative of the ballplayer told ESPNdeportes.com. The agreement will be complete when Guillen passes a physical exam, scheduled for Tuesday."

"Maybe all it took was a bit of negotiating leverage Monday for the Royals to heat up their stalled talks with free-agent outfielder Jose Guillen. A growing willingness by the club to view Andruw Jones as a possible alternative seemed to serve as a catalyst. Sources now say the Royals and Guillen are closing in on a three-year contract believed to be valued at $33-36 million."

"Two major elbow surgeries in the last three years haven’t quenched Brian Anderson’s competitive drive. The ex-Royals left-hander, at 35, is hoping to make another comeback in 2008."

"Count the Dodgers and White Sox among them. Both teams like Rowand but would favor something more in the three-year range. Heck, if Rowand would take a three-year deal, the Phillies might step up efforts to retain him. The Twins, Royals, Rangers and Orioles also could be in on Rowand, especially if he would sign for three years."

"The primary challenge this week for Royals general manager Dayton Moore isn’t finding sufficient payroll in his 2008 budget to pursue the club’s two principal free-agent targets — outfielder Jose Guillen and right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. Not at all. The Royals bring nearly $25 million in spendable cash to baseball’s annual winter meetings, which start officially today at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center."

"The asking price might be beyond the Braves' comfort level for Boston's trade-bait center fielder Coco Crisp. Kansas City GM Dayton Moore (another longtime John Schuerholz assistant) would also want plenty in a trade for David DeJesus or singles-hitting Joey Gathright."

"They also come with a clear No. 1 target for both needs: free-agent outfielder Jose Guillen and Japanese right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. Look for them to go hard after both, even if it means getting into a bidding war."

"Making a move to compensate for the free-agent losses of closer Francisco Cordero and set-up man Scott Linebrink, the Milwaukee Brewers closed in Thursday on a three-year deal with reliever David Riske, a free agent coming off a strong year with Kansas City."

"The Royals are dismissing reports from the Dominican Republic that say they are close to an agreement with free-agent outfielder Jose Guillen. General manager Dayton Moore declined to comment on the matter, but indications suggest the Baltimore Orioles and at least one other team are showing strong interest in Guillen."

"Baseball's winter meetings don't begin until next week, but the Yankees and Twins have already started trade talks regarding pitcher Johan Santana... The Yankees have 'definitely reached out' to free agent right-hander David Riske, said his agent Nez Balelo."

"The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim agreed to a five-year, $90 million contract with free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter late Wednesday, providing Vladimir Guerrero some protection in the batting order. And it ends the Royals quest to land the power-hitting outfielder and refocuses their efforts on trying to land outfielder Jose Guillen."

"Torii Hunter’s ongoing dining tour of interested clubs is, of course, drawing close scrutiny from the Royals, who view him as their top offseason target. So there was definite relief Tuesday when Hunter, a free-agent outfielder, spiked a report in the Chicago Sun-Times that he was on the verge of signing with the White Sox. Even so, those close to the situation continue to characterize the White Sox as the leading suitor — followed by the Royals, Dodgers and Rangers."

"Longtime Royals captain Mike Sweeney probably needs to increase his efforts to find a new team because Billy Butler’s recent work at first base in the Dominican Republic isn’t drawing rave reviews. “I don’t think we can report that there’s a significant change or that he’ll be our opening-day first baseman,” farm director J.J. Picollo acknowledged. "

"Tampa Bay is still in the market for a shortstop, and Juan Uribe is now expendable after the White Sox acquired Orlando Cabrera on Monday. But the Rays are looking for defense first, and that isn't Uribe's forte. ... The Rays are among five teams in the mix to sign free-agent RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta, the veteran reliever told reporters in Japan. Kyodo News reported Sunday that Yabuta, 34, also has talked to the Royals, Indians, White Sox and Pirates."

"The White Sox are among five teams in the running for Japanese reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta. The Sox are looking for bullpen help, and Yabuta has told Japanese media the Sox, Royals, Indians, Rays and Pirates are the finalists for his services."

"The Royals, for a second straight year, are looking to Japan to solve their need for a setup reliever and appear close to a multiyear agreement with veteran right-hander Yasuhiko Yabuta."

"Mike Lowell... But if Boston fails to keep him, the Yankees probably will grab him."

"Add the Royals to any list of serious bidders for free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter... The Royals continue to show interest in outfielder Jose Guillen, who became a free agent when he and the Mariners each rejected a mutual option for 2008."