Kansas City Royals Wiretap

Sweeney Could Still Come To Anaheim

A Mike Sweeney-to-the-Angels deal is not dead yet. According to an Angels source, however, it might not happen until the offseason, which wouldn't help this year's club in its quest to find a big right-handed bat needed to provide some punch.

Sweeney, the Kansas City Royals first baseman, reportedly has cleared waivers and still could be dealt this season, but not at the price the Angels were asked to pay before the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline. According to the source, the Angels would have had to deal pitcher Ervin Santana, first baseman Casey Kotchman and a middle infield prospect, an area in which the Angels are well-stocked with Alberto Callaspo, Erick Aybar, Howie Kendrick and Brandon Wood.

Another sticking point could be Sweeney's contract, which runs through 2007 and guarantees Sweeney approximately $30 million. Angels owner Arte Moreno has said money is not an issue as long as it's "within reason."

The Angels will shave about $16 million from this year's payroll with the expiration of Jarrod Washburn's and Tim Salmon's contracts. Others, like John Lackey and Francisco Rodriguez, will get significant raises.

Sweeney, hitting .297 with 18 homers and 64 RBI, has said he'd like a trade to the Angels and a return home. He was born in Orange, Calif. and graduated from Ontario High.

Via LA Daily News

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Stairs Expects To Sign One-Year Extension With Royals Soon

Veteran Matt Stairs expects to reach agreement soon on a new one-year contract with the Royals.

?They?ve made an offer,? he said. ?We?re going to sit down and talk some more. Put it this way, it won?t take very long. They want me back. They know I want to come back. So let?s dot the I?s and cross the T?s.?

Stairs, 37, is believed to be seeking a small raise from his current one-year deal, reached last September, that pays him $1.2 million. His deal also includes a performance bonus of $50,000 if he reaches 450 plate appearances.

?We?re moving forward to try to get something done,? general manager Allard Baird confirmed.

Via Kansas City Star

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Meltdown In Kansas City; Royals Give Up 11 9th Inning Runs

Kansas City took a five-run lead into the ninth and was on the verge of snapping a 10-game losing streak, but the Indians sent 14 men to the plate and scored 11 runs to rally for a 13-7 victory Tuesday night over the bumbling Royals.

Jhonny Peralta's three-run homer capped the inning after Angel Berroa, Chip Ambres and Emil Brown all made errors. Eight of the runs in the inning were unearned.

"They kind of gave it to us," said Casey Blake, who led off the ninth with a double. "Obviously, they cut their own throats. You won't see that too often, big-leaguers dropping a ball, let alone two in one inning.

"Any time you get some big hits and the defense is giving you more outs, things like that can happen. It looked pretty bleak when you're down five runs and their closer comes in."

The Royals are one loss shy of the longest skid in franchise history, set from June 28-July 13, 1997.

"It was a crazy game," Indians manager Eric Wedge. "It was really two different games. That's the reason you play all the way through."

Via ESPN

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