0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Just because Jose Guillen is penciled into the Royals' lineup, don't give up on Andruw Jones' name appearing there as well.The Royals and Guillen apparently have agreed to a three-year, $36-million contract but the club cannot confirm the deal pending the outfielder passing a physical examination. That could take place on Wednesday.Guillen fills a top priority set by the Royals coming into the Winter Meetings: a right-handed power hitter for the middle of the lineup. Yet general manager Dayton Moore might be trying to snag two sluggers instead of one.Jones, a free agent from the Atlanta Braves, is still on the market and Moore is believed to be still in that hunt as well.After an open forum with reporters on Tuesday afternoon, new manager Trey Hillman was asked if the Royals wanted Jones after already securing Guillen."I don't think there's anything that's going to be a stopping [point] because of satisfaction with something. It won't be coming finalized," Hillman said, deftly avoiding a yes or no answer."The only thing I can say without compromising my loyalities is that the aggressiveness [by Moore] is extremely exciting and refreshing."A sticking point apparently is that Jones' agent, Scott Boras, is seeking a five-year contract for Jones that would exceed the $90 million lavished on Torii Hunter by the Los Angeles Angels.Word is that the Royals would be interested only on a two- or perhaps three-year deal. Jones had a subpar 2007 season for the Braves and the Royals don't want to go overboard with a lengthy commitment.If nothing else, it shows that the Royals are willing to spend more money to build a winner this year. They reportedly dropped out of the Hunter chase only after the bidding passed the $70 million mark.Guillen, pending the physical, is heading for Kauffman Stadium -- which would be his ninth Major League stop in 12 years."All you have to do is look at the numbers over the last 10 years and if we were to have that bat, it would certainly help," Hillman said.
