The royals will pay less than 100,000 for the rest of the year. He pitched a great game today against the yanks.

 

Tuesday, August 5

Updated: August 7, 2:12 AM ET

 

Appier will start Friday against Devil Rays

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Associated Press

 

 

CHICAGO -- Even when the Kansas City Royals get some good news, there's an injury lurking somewhere to spoil it.

 

The AL Central-leading Royals reached a deal with former ace Kevin Appier on Wednesday, only to lose outfielder Michael Tucker with a broken right leg.

 

 

"Getting Appier is good for our team,'' first baseman Ken Harvey said. "We need some starting pitchers.''

 

 

Actually, the Royals could use warm bodies of all sorts these days. Tucker will miss 6-to-8 weeks with what was initially thought to be a bruise, and starting first baseman Mike Sweeney has been on the disabled list since June. Infielder Mendy Lopez also has been out since June.

 

 

But the pitching staff has been hit the hardest. Miguel Asencio has been out since May, and Jose Lima went on the DL weekend with a strained groin. Kyle Snyder went back on the disabled list Wednesday with shoulder problems.

 

 

"Our starting pitchers are young, that means we're looking for some help,'' manager Tony Pena said. "I think we're going to be OK.''

 

 

Appier was released by the Angels last week, even though Anaheim still owed him more than $15.6 million. The Royals will pay less than $100,000 for the right-hander this year, and Anaheim also will be responsible for his $12 million salary next year.

 

 

The 35-year-old Appier pitched for the Royals from 1989-99. The ninth overall pick in the 1987 amateur draft, he soon became a mainstay in Kansas City's rotation and was 114-89 with the Royals.

 

 

"Obviously, he's a veteran, a guy with playoff experience,'' assistant general manager Muzzy Jackson said. "A guy that's going to be able to stop a losing streak for you. He's going to be able to give you innings. He's a battle-tested warrior. He'll go out and take the ball for you and, on that day, you know you've got a chance to win that game.''

 

 

The Royals lost 4-3 to Chicago on Wednesday, cutting their lead in the AL Central to just one game over the White Sox. While Chicago has gone 15-5 since the All-Star break, trimming six games off Kansas City's division lead, the Royals are 9-11.

 

 

And the injuries haven't helped.

 

 

But even if the team was healthy, Jackson said they still likely would have pursued Appier.

 

 

"He's a guy we like,'' Jackson said. "We like what he brought to the team for a long time. He's a former Royal and we want him. He's a guy that we would pursue, either way.''

 

 

Appier was 14-12 with a 3.92 ERA for Anaheim last season, winning a World Series ring. But he struggled to a 7-7 record with a 5.63 ERA in 19 starts this year while pitching with a partial tear in his elbow and a strained right forearm that put him on the disabled list.

 

 

In his last outing, Appier threw 43 pitches and didn't make it out of the first inning against the New York Yankees. He gave up four runs and five hits while getting only two outs.

 

 

The next day, July 30, the Angels placed him on waivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release.

 

 

Appier is 168-134 lifetime with a 3.72 ERA. His best season was 1993, when he went 18-8 with an AL-leading 2.56 ERA and finished third in voting for the Cy Young Award.

 

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

garbage, but i hope he does well with the royals

yea but that is still a good pick up for their playoff run

yah I watched that game last nite. He was great.

KC vs the Fish in the Series!

no...I'd rather play the Yankees...why? It's much easier to hate the Yanks, than to hate the Royals....I hope the Royals do well...but cmon...ya gotta like the Royals...and I just dont want US to be the team to beat em....how sweet would it be to beat the Yanks...and maybe sway some SoFla fans from the Spankees to the Marlins.

Yea they got him for cheap and he has done good in his career (Except with the Angels). Good pick up for them

Yea they got him for cheap and he has done good in his career (Except with the Angels). Good pick up for them

last year he did good for the Angels

For some reason, I just can't get into the Royals Cinderella story. I'm rooting for the White Sox to overtake them and put them away. It's probably because I think the Sox would make a more formidable opponent to the Yankees in the playoffs than the Royals. All it would take is for Paul Konerko to start hitting again and that team is dangerous!

For some reason, I just can't get into the Royals Cinderella story. I'm rooting for the White Sox to overtake them and put them away. It's probably because I think the Sox would make a more formidable opponent to the Yankees in the playoffs than the Royals. All it would take is for Paul Konerko to start hitting again and that team is dangerous!

I think that either team from the west or the Redsox if they make it could stop the Yanks so I dont mind seeing the Royals win, but you do have a good point.