Reggie Sanders is... a Royal?

[riverside sluggers]

I must say the Royals are gearing up for a major upgrade over what they had this past season. 20 game losing streak in particular anyone? A work in progress considering the division they are in.

 

Royals close to landing Sanders

Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com

Posted: 3 hours ago

 

The Royals, continuing their effort to add established veterans, are closing on a two-year deal with free-agent outfielder Reggie Sanders for approximately $10 million, FOXSports.com has learned. Sanders, 38, is expected to play left field for the Royals, who earlier this week signed first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, right-handed starter Scott Elarton and backup catcher Paul Bako. Several teams, including the Dodgers, were reluctant to give Sanders a multi-year deal. But the Royals, after losing out to the Cubs for free-agent outfielder Jacque Jones, valued Sanders' leadership as well as his production.

 

The Royals will be Sanders' eighth team in the past nine seasons. He spent the past two years as a regular with the Cardinals, reaching the World Series in 2004 and National League Championship Series in '05. Sanders was leading the postseason with 12 RBIs last October when he suffered neck and back injuries after an awkward spill in the outfield in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.

 

During the regular season, he missed nearly two months after suffering a broken bone in his right leg in a collision with Cardinals center fielder Jim Edmonds. But for the most part he has been durable, averaging 26 homers over the past five seasons. A career .267 hitter, Sanders is eight homers short of 300.

[Cityofchampions33]

Yeah, theyre not in for WS contention though.

[riverside sluggers]

as i had said, its a work in progress. Minky and Grudz will give them a more solidified infield, and Reggie gives them some more pop if he can stay healthy. It sucks for them to be in the same divsion as the reigning White Sox, the surging Guardians, and the Twins. They could have a chance at the least to hop over the Tigers in the division standings.

[Soxfan1]

I knew he wouldn't go back to STL but KC? STL will be hurt greatly with the loss of Walker Sanders and Morris.

[yankeessuck013]

It's true he's KC Bound

 

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051223&content_id=1287017&vkey=hotstove2005&fext=.jsp

[riverside sluggers]

The Royals have also signed former Twins' starting pitcher Joe Mays. Their forming roster definitely is a step up from the 56-106 season they just had.

 

Sanders and Mays agree to deals with Royals

By STEVE BRISENDINE, AP Sports Writer

December 23, 2005

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Reggie Sanders and the Kansas City Royals finalized a $10 million, two-year contract Friday night, bringing the outfielder to the American League for the first time in a major league career that began in 1991. Making yet another move after finishing a major league-worst 56-106 last season, the Royals also agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract with pitcher Joe Mays, a deal that allows the right-hander to make an additional $1 million in performance bonuses based on starts. The 38-year-old Sanders hit .271 with 21 homers and 54 RBIs last season with St. Louis. He broke his right leg in an outfield collision with Jim Edmonds on July 15, but hit .305 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 40 games after returning to the lineup in September and had 10 RBIs in the three-game sweep of San Diego in the first round of the playoffs.

 

He has a career average of .267, with 271 homers and 869 RBIs. "We're asking for dependable production because of his history," general manager Allard Baird said Friday night, "but we're also asking for his leadership as a person within the clubhouse. He fits in well with our club, and we're hoping he'll have a huge influence." The 30-year-old Mays, who has been with the Minnesota Twins since breaking into the majors in 1999, was 6-10 with a 5.65 ERA last year after undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2003. His best year was 2001, when he went 17-13 -- his only winning record in the majors -- and was named to the AL All-Star team.

 

"With a guy coming off Tommy John surgery, it's usually the second year those guys come around," Baird said. "We like our defense, especially our infield defense, and its potential to be a good fit with a sinkerball pitcher." Kansas City previously reached agreements with free agent infielders Mark Grudzielanek and Doug Mientkiewicz, pitcher Scott Elarton and backup catcher Paul Bako. "If something presents itself, we'll surely take a look at it," Baird said. "But as of right now, we think we've addressed our needs as we head into the offseason."

[ahhchon]

reggie sanders is an underated player... if healthy he'll put up great numbers for 5 mill per.. he was a great contributor to my winning fantasy team.

 

john

[yankeessuck013]

I'd say 70-80 wins for the Royals. The have some good veterans to help out their youngsters and I think that they can avoid losing 100 games.