Royals, Appier Hit Snags In Contract Negotiations

Kevin Appier and Kansas City are back on shaky ground after contract talks between the All-Star pitcher and the Royals broke off a week ago.

Agent Jeff Borris said the sides were close on money - slightly less than $15 million for three years - but could not agree on a no-trade deal. Borris said Appier, making more than $5 million this season, was willing to take less than he could likely get in the free market after this season, as long as he received a guarantee that he’d stay in Kansas City.

Appier, a 12-8 winner over the Mariners on Saturday, did not want what happened to David Cone - a hometown hero who returned to Kansas City, won a Cy Young Award and was then dealt away - to happen to him.

“Without that protection, we thought that after Kansas City made a deal with Kevin, they’d trade him,” Borris said. “We thought Kansas City may’ve had a trade in place.”

The Royals deny any deal was imminent, and say they want to keep Appier, although they’re sure to get offers as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. Appier, 28, has spent his whole career with Kansas City, notching an impressive 85-60 record for a team that has been around .500.

Asked whether he thought Appier would be traded soon, in absence of a new contract, Borris responded, “Absolutely.”

Best of friends

Look for things to remain hot between the Cleveland Indians and the Milwaukee Brewers when they meet again at Jacobs Field on Aug. 23-25. In the wake of last week’s Albert Belle-Fernando Vina collision and the brawl started when Julian Tavarez threw behind the head of Milwaukee catcher Mike Matheny, Cleveland pitcher Jack McDowell fanned the flames further by accusing the Brewers of thuggery.

“All I know is that 90 percent of the fights in the American League involve somebody in Milwaukee,” McDowell said. “It’s been like that for years. … Play the game right. Figure it out. It’s not that tough.”

Responded Brewers infielder Pat Listach: “Yeah, I guess we started that one. Fernando hit Belle in the elbow with his face . … Everybody’s entitled to his own opinion, no matter how stupid it is.”

Maris still within reach

Don’t think a measly five-game suspension can keep Belle from breaking Roger Maris’ record. When Belle crunched his 23rd homer of the year Wednesday against the M’s, it gave him 60 homers in less than five months of baseball - from July 8, 1995, to June 5, 1996.

A-1 Alomar

Not only did Baltimore’s Roberto Alomar enter Saturday batting .408 (just the fifth man this decade to be hitting .400 in June), he also was on pace to rack up 262 hits. That would break the major league record of 257 in a season by George Sisler of the 1920 St. Louis Browns.

“I thought he was the best player in the American League the first time I saw him,” Tigers manager Buddy Bell said of Alomar. “Now, he might be the best player in baseball.”

Bye to Bobby Bo?

Baltimore continues to wrangle with the decision of whether to trade disgruntled designated hitter Bobby Bonilla to St. Louis for catcher Tom Pagnozzi and relief pitcher Jeff Parrett. Baltimore thinks the defensive-minded Pagnozzi would handle its starting staff better than Chris Hoiles and knows Parrett could take some of the load off ex-Ranger Roger McDowell, whose elbow is getting sore after he’s already made 24 appearances spanning 42-2/3 innings. Manager Davey Johnson also has tired of lineup complaints from Bonilla, who is hitting .217 as the DH and .313 when he plays his preferred right field.

“They can do what they want,” said Bonilla, who is earning $4.5 million in the final year of his five-year, $29.2 million contract. “Since when do I make the decisions around here? I like Baltimore. I just don’t like being the designated hitter.”

The week ahead

Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. takes center stage again this week as he approaches the world record for consecutive games played (2,215 by Japan’s Sachio Kinugasa). Ripken is scheduled to break the record Friday in Kansas City.

Mariners nix deal

Seattle reportedly turned down Baltimore’s offer of left-hander Kent Mercker for a package including top catching prospect Chris Widger.