CLEVELAND | Royals infielder Mike Aviles doesn’t like being viewed as a utility player. Hates it, really. And he is open and honest enough not to pretend otherwise.
“I’m not handling it great,” he admitted prior to Friday’s series opener against the Indians at Progressive Field. “I feel I’ve been an everyday player my whole career. And every time I play on an everyday basis, I’ve been able to produce when healthy. “So you know I’m not going to be handling it great, because I don’t feel it’s justified. But it is what it is. I have to do it for now and see what happens.” And for now, manager Ned Yost makes clear, Aviles is a backup infielder. The starting jobs belong to second baseman Chris Getz, shortstop Alcides Escobar and third baseman Mike Moustakas. Aviles started three straight games this week by spelling each of the three starters for one game apiece. Otherwise, he’s relegated to spot duty off the bench in late innings. “I think it’s more of an attitude adjustment,” Yost said. “You look at Mitch Maier. He does it perfectly. You’ve got to do your work in the cage early. You’ve got to take extra ground balls. You’ve got to stay mentally sharp. It’s not an easy task.” It’s an adjustment that Aviles, at 30, isn’t yet willing to make. “I can’t, for myself, be happy with this,” he said. “The team owns my rights and can, basically, do whatever it wants. So I’m stuck right now. I honestly feel like I can produce on an everyday basis. I did it last year. I did it my first year in the big leagues (2008).” Aviles entered this season with a .298 career average but quickly found himself in a platoon role. Aviles didn’t adapt well to spot duty. His average tumbled to .213 by June 9, which prompted a demotion to Class AAA Omaha. Once there, and given regular duty, Aviles earned his way back by batting .307 in 35 games. But even at Omaha, Aviles saw opportunity passing him by. His path to regaining regular duty with the Royals lay in improving his defensive skills at second base and, eventually, challenging Getz for a starting job. Instead, Aviles found himself playing shortstop, where Escobar is a fixture on the big-league club, because the Royals want Johnny Giavotella, one of their top prospects, to play second base at Omaha on a full-time basis. “That’s just how it’s been,” Aviles said. “But good things come to those who wait, and I’ve waited a lot during my career. And you know what? This is no different. Something good is going to come out of this, whether it’s here or … we’ll see what happens.” No retaliation The Royals told starter Jeff Francis there was no need to retaliate for the near-beaning of Billy Butler by Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco. “It’s my job to do that,” Francis said, “but guys came up to me and said, ‘Just pitch your game, and we’ll take care of this on the field.’ ” Francis was three outs away from his third career shutout when lifted after eight innings. He had thrown a season-high 115 pitches at the time. “It’s nice to throw complete games,” he said, “but if the manager comes and shakes my hand, I’m not going to put up a fuss.”Still a six-man rotation Yost continues to mull a return to a five-man rotation but plans no adjustments to his six-man unit during the three-game weekend series against the Indians. “I’m not going to make any decisions until the off day (Monday),” Yost said. “I still think they’d be sharper in a five-man rotation than in a six. We’ll look at it and re-evaluate it on the off day.”
No progress on Starling
There’s been little progress in negotiations with outfielder Bubba Starling, the multisport star from Gardner Edgerton whom the Royals selected in June with the fifth overall pick in the new-player draft. “I have not had any discussions,” general manager Dayton Moore admitted. “I don’t know where it’s going to go. Nothing surprises me (in negotiations with high draft picks).” Starling is currently taking part in preseason football drills at Nebraska. He is represented by Scott Boras and is thought to be seeking a $10 million signing bonus. The Royals are thought to be offering roughly $7.5 million. The signing deadline for all drafted players except college seniors is 11 p.m. Central time on Aug. 15. Because Starling is a multisport athlete, his signing bonus — if both sides agree — can be spread over five years.
There’s been little progress in negotiations with outfielder Bubba Starling, the multisport star from Gardner Edgerton whom the Royals selected in June with the fifth overall pick in the new-player draft. “I have not had any discussions,” general manager Dayton Moore admitted. “I don’t know where it’s going to go. Nothing surprises me (in negotiations with high draft picks).” Starling is currently taking part in preseason football drills at Nebraska. He is represented by Scott Boras and is thought to be seeking a $10 million signing bonus. The Royals are thought to be offering roughly $7.5 million. The signing deadline for all drafted players except college seniors is 11 p.m. Central time on Aug. 15. Because Starling is a multisport athlete, his signing bonus — if both sides agree — can be spread over five years.
