Royals Rumors

Draft Updates: White Sox, Tigers, Royals, Phils

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 17, 2009 at 4:33pm CDT

4:33pm: John Manuel of Baseball America reports that the Phillies will sign Colvin for $900k, or six times as much as the commissioner recommends. The Phillies have now signed everyone they drafted through the first 13 rounds.

4:22pm: More updates, with under seven hours remaining before the deadline to sign picks…

ESPN.com's Keith Law says the White Sox won't sign third rounder Bryan Morgado unless there's a last-minute turn of events.
Law reports that the Phillies are working towards an agreement with seventh round pick Brody Colvin. However, Law hears that the Phillies aren't on the brink of signing the righty.
The Tigers had their top three unsigned picks, including first rounder Jacob Turner, undergo physicals today, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck.
It's too early to tell how their picks will work out, but J.J. Cooper of Baseball America says the Royals are spending aggressively on the draft for the second straight year.

Royals Agree To Terms With Chris Dwyer

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 17, 2009 at 3:18pm CDT

The Royals agreed to sign fourth rounder Chris Dwyer, according to a team press release. We heard last week that the sides had agreed on a $1.5MM deal, which would have been a record for the fourth round, but the Royals said they hadn't yet completed the deal with the lefty. The team hasn't said how much they agreed to pay Dwyer, who was a highly-regarded quarterback in high school. Jim Callis of Baseball America says the deal is for $1.45MM, just short of Max Stassi's record for a fourth rounder.

Odds And Ends: Meche, Hall, Red Sox, Pirates

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 14, 2009 at 3:54pm CDT

Time for another round of links…

Via Twitter, Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Royals told the Yankees they don't want to trade Gil Meche.
MLB.com's Mark Sheldon hears that the Reds have "some interest" in the recently-DFA'd Bill Hall.
Jim Callis of Baseball America reports that the Red Sox signed 26th rounder Miles Head for $335k, which is more than double MLB's recommended bonus.
The Red Sox are also nearing deals with David Renfroe and Madison Younginer, whose could each sign for seven figures.
Callis reports that the Pirates signed 12th rounder Jeff Inman for $425k. Yet another over-slot signing for the Pirates and now Callis says they've been more aggressive than any other team.

Royals To Sign Wil Myers For $2MM

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 14, 2009 at 2:59pm CDT

The Royals agreed to sign catcher Wil Myers for $2MM, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. The bonus is one of the biggest ever for a third round pick and is five times bigger than the bonus MLB recommends for the slot. Some clubs considered Myers a first round talent and some have compared him to former NL MVP Dale Murphy, who also began his career behind the plate.

Royals Draft Update: Dwyer, Myers, Crow

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 14, 2009 at 10:21am CDT

The Royals are nearing deals with two of their top picks, though they haven't finalized anything yet, according to Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star. Baseball America reported yesterday that the Royals agreed to a $1.5MM deal with fourth rounder Chris Dwyer, but the Royals insist that they have reached no such agreement. However, scouting director J.J. Picollo says he's confident the Royals can sign Dwyer and high school catcher Wil Myers.

Negotiations with first rounder Aaron Crow haven't progressed as far, but the Royals don't have to sign him by Monday because he played independent ball this year. We heard the Royals offered Crow $3MM, but Picollo says the sides "aren't on the same page."

Odds & Ends: Rays, Royals, Free Agents

By Eddie Schmid | August 13, 2009 at 6:20pm CDT

Did somebody order these links? No? Oh, well here, you can have them anyway:

ESPN's Buster Olney (Insider link) gives a rundown of the coming offseason's most attractive starting pitching options and the caveats that come with them.
The owners of the Rays have purchased a franchise, the Florida Tuskers, in the United Football League, says Joe Smith at the St. Petersburg Times. They'll play in Tropicana Field.
Sam Mellinger at the Kansas City Star says that fourth-rounder Chris Dwyer and third-rounder Wil Myers have yet to sign with the Royals, despite reports and bonus figures that indicated they had. Regardless, talks are "close."
Marc Topkin at the St. Petersburg Times says that the Rays are close to signing their third-, fourth-, fifth- and ninth-round picks. No word on the terms just yet.
According to Geoff Baker at the Seattle Times, Mariners assistant GM Jim Na is resigning.

Royals To Sign Fourth Rounder For $1.5MM

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 13, 2009 at 2:36pm CDT

The Royals agreed to sign lefty Chris Dwyer to the biggest bonus ever awarded to a fourth rounder, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America. The Royals will sign Dwyer for $1.5MM, which tops the previous mark, set when the Yankees signed Brad Suttle for $1.3MM two years ago. The Royals have shown a willingness to spend recently, going over-slot by $1.25MM for Dwyer and reportedly offering Aaron Crow $3MM.

Callis says Dwyer throws his fastball between 90 and 94 mph and also goes after hitters with a hammer curve.

Stark On Smoltz, Reds, Strasburg, Thome

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 13, 2009 at 1:05pm CDT

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark adds the Astros to the list of teams interested in John Smoltz. Here are the rest of his rumors:

The Cubs could look for another bat and another starter, but it depends on how healthy Aramis Ramirez, Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano are.
Stark points out that Aaron Harang's 2011 club option becomes a more expensive $14MM mutual option if he's traded. The Reds haven't seemed willing to take on cash in a trade involving Harang or rotation-mate Bronson Arroyo.
The Yanks don't appear to have interest in either Reds starter, or John Smoltz, for that matter.
Don't expect any serious negotiating to occur between the Nationals, Scott Boras and Stephen Strasburg before the last minute. Most execs who Stark surveyed expect Strasburg to sign in the end.
The Braves could re-sign Adam LaRoche after the season, when the first baseman will hit free agency.
Jim Thome still impresses scouts and should be able to find work as a DH after the season.
Some teams doubt Vicente Padilla's character because the Rangers are ready to part with him even though they need pitching.
Some of Alex Rios' former teammates question the outfielder's work ethic and desire.
Stark hears that Andy Sonnanstine and Jeff Niemann were claimed on waivers and quickly pulled back by the Rays.
The Braves made a quick run at Victor Martinez before the Red Sox acquired him, but didn't get very far.
Though their negotiations with Aaron Crow could theoretically continue into late spring, the Royals may impose a deadline of their own to sign their top pick.

Royals Offer Crow $3MM To Sign?

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 13, 2009 at 11:34am CDT

ESPN.com's Keith Law hears that the Royals offered top pick Aaron Crow $3MM only to hear that it will take a better offer. The two sides have more time than most to work out a deal, since Crow played independent ball this year and isn't subject to Monday's deadline for signing picks.

Law doesn't see any reason for the Royals to boost their offer, which he calls "more than generous." Last year the Nats drafted Crow and failed to sign him; it`s hard to imagine anyone putting off his pro debut for two years, especially if there`s a $3MM offer available.

Sidney Ponson Becomes A Free Agent

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 12, 2009 at 2:48pm CDT

Journeyman right-hander Sidney Ponson became a free agent today when the Royals obtained release waivers on him, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. The Royals designated the starter for assignment ten days ago after a disappointing stint with the club.

Check out our complete list of current free agents here.

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