Royals notebook: Grudzielanek hopes to play another two or three years — but where?
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
BALTIMORE | It’s a question that comes to any ballplayer lucky enough still to be playing at age 38, a milestone reached Monday by Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek.
How much longer?
“If I feel like I’ve felt the last few days,” he said, “I could easily play five more years. I’m feeling pretty good. I’m moving around better. My knees are good.
“But really? Two or three years, maybe.”
The next question brings a lot more hedging: Here or somewhere else? Grudzielanek is in his third year with the Royals, but his current contract contains no vesting option for the future as in the past.
Grudzielanek also said there have been no talks regarding an extension — and he seems to suggest that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“I’m really up in the air,” he said. “I really am. I’ve got a few more years left, and I’d like to make a run at it. The last few years have not left the best taste in my mouth, let’s be honest. I don’t want to go out like that.”
Grudzielanek remains productive in his 14th big-league season. He is batting .307 after going one for four in Monday’s 6-5 victory over the Orioles in 11 innings.
Even so, the Royals now appear to have viable long-term alternatives at second base in Alberto Callaspo and Mike Aviles. That figures to make club officials more willing to entertain trade offers for Grudzielanek as the July 31 nonwaiver deadline approaches.
“Those are decisions that will be made when they have to be made,” general manager Dayton Moore said. “But as far as his play, his performance speaks for itself.”
Grudzielanek is willing to listen if the Royals want to discuss an extension. If not, he understands.
“We’ll have to wait and see what happens,” he said. “We’re still probably two or three guys away (from making a serious run at postseason). We’re definitely one big offensive guy away. But we are making strides. We’re better. We’ll see.”
Monday was also the birthday of outfield prospect Mitch Maier, a first-round pick in 2003. He turned 26. Maier is batting .304 this season in 62 games at Class AAA Omaha with six homers and 31 RBIs.
DeJesus still ailing
Outfielder David DeJesus remains sidelined by a bruised lower right rib cage suffered Sunday in collision at the plate with Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue. DeJesus slammed down onto LaRue’s mask as the play’s conclusion.
“I landed on his mask and, boom, that was it,” said DeJesus, who exited Sunday’s game after two innings. “As I walked away from the play, I felt all right. But as soon as I got to the dugout, it was like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ It’s pretty sore.”
DeJesus said the bruised area felt “much better” Monday than he expected, but manager Trey Hillman indicated it could be a few days before DeJesus returns to the lineup.
A winning June
The Royals finished 16-11 in June for their first winning record in a full month since last July. It was also their best full month since going 16-7 in April 2003.
The club was 13-12 last July after going 15-12 the previous month. That June 2007 mark ended a streak of 22 consecutive losing months dating to July 2003.
Etc.
•Aviles replaced DeJesus as the leadoff hitter. He went two for six and scored the winning run.
•Billy Butler started for the first time in three games since his recall from Omaha. He was the DH and went three for five.
•The Royals ended a seven-game losing streak at Camden Yards. They were 0-3 in 2006 and 0-4 in 2007.
•An alert for DirecTV subscribers: Starting Wednesday, FSN Kansas City will switch from Channel 648 to Channel 672.
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