Kansas.com: Kansas City Royals

Greinke wins in a landslide

SAM MELLINGER — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:05 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Around here, among Royals fans in Kansas City, there's been a persistent buzz about whether Zack Greinke would win the Cy Young Award as the American League's best pitcher.

Out there, in Zack Greinke's offseason in Orlando, Fla., not so much.

"Not really," he says. "I've been playing this 'World of Warcraft' game."

Greinke favorite to win Cy Young

SAM MELLINGER — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:58 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —The Royals' first Cy Young winner has simple advice for the man expected to become the latest.

"Whatever his pregame meal is," Bret Saberhagen says of Zack Greinke, "just keep on eating it."

Greinke, of course, had a breakout season in 2009, when his 2.16 ERA was the best in the American League by more than a third of a run, and the best overall mark since Pedro Martinez in 2000. He went 16-8 and struck out 242 in 229 1/3 innings, dominant enough that most expect him to be honored when the Baseball Writers Association of America selects the winner this afternoon.

Kauffman back on Hall ballot

Bob DUTTON — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:03 CST

Former Royals owner Ewing Kauffman is again just one step away from a posthumous induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Kauffman was one of 10 executives selected Tuesday for consideration by a 12-member Veterans Committee that again includes current Royals owner David Glass.

"Ewing Kauffman took an expansion franchise in a small market and made it very respectable," Glass said. "He was highly respected by the other owners and contributed to lots of decisions that, as other owners will tell you, were always in the best interest of the game."

Royals downsizing salary load

BOB DUTTON — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:07 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Two overriding factors surfaced Friday in explaining the Royals' decision to send third baseman/outfielder Mark Teahen to division-rival Chicago with cash for second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman/outfielder Josh Fields.

Increasing inventory while gaining financial flexibility.

"Our motivation behind this deal — and any deal that we make this winter," Royals general manager Dayton Moore acknowledged, "is to acquire as many zero-to-three service-time players as we can. That was certainly what we did here."

Royals' offseason opens with trade rumors

BOB DUTTON — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:07 CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —It didn't take long for the Royals to surface in baseball's offseason trade rumors.

Merely hours after the New York Yankees secured their 27th World Series title, a report claimed the Royals had agreed to send outfielder Mark Teahen to the Chicago White Sox for second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman/outfielder Josh Fields.

The report first appeared Thursday in the New York Daily News and gained steam when the Chicago Sun-Times cited confirmation from the White Sox. It now appears those reports, at best, are premature.