BASEBALL ROUNDUP Red Sox talking with Millwood

The former Indians starterhas the same agent as Johnny Damon.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOSTON -- Days after losing Johnny Damon to the New York Yankees, the Red Sox were meeting with his agent, Scott Boras, about bringing pitcher Kevin Millwood to Boston.
Boras left New York hours after finalizing Damon's four-year, $52 million deal with the Yankees on Friday to meet with Red Sox representatives.
Boston president Larry Lucchino declined to comment on whether an offer was made. Earlier this week, Boras was in Texas to talk about the 2005 AL ERA champion with the Rangers.
"I can confirm that we are in the process seeking to sign Millwood," Lucchino said Friday night, adding that a resolution was not imminent.
Millwood went 9-11 with a 2.86 ERA in 30 starts for the Indians last season and made $7 million. He was limited to 25 starts with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2004, when he was bothered by elbow swelling. While he was 9-6 with a 4.85 ERA for the Phillies that season, he won only two games after hurting his right elbow.
Although the Red Sox need a shortstop, a first baseman and a center fielder, they would appear to have plenty of starting pitchers. But lefty David Wells has asked for a trade closer to his West Coast home, and the team has said it would try to accommodate him.
Left fielder Manny Ramirez has also asked for a trade. Lucchino said discussions on Wells and Ramirez continue "with some frequency."
Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Reggie Sanders and the Kansas City Royals finalized a $10 million, two-year contract, bringing the outfielder to the American League for the first time in a major league career that began in 1991.
Making yet another move after finishing a major league-worst 56-106 last season, the Royals also agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract with pitcher Joe Mays, a deal that allows the right-hander to make an additional $1 million in performance bonuses based on starts.
The 38-year-old Sanders hit .271 with 21 homers and 54 RBIs last season with St. Louis. He broke his right leg in an outfield collision with Jim Edmonds on July 15, but hit .305 with 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 40 games after returning to the lineup in September and had 10 RBIs in the three-game sweep of San Diego in the first round of the playoffs.
He has a career average of .267, with 271 homers and 869 RBIs.
"We're asking for dependable production because of his history," general manager Allard Baird said Friday night, "but we're also asking for his leadership as a person within the clubhouse. He fits in well with our club, and we're hoping he'll have a huge influence."
The 30-year-old Mays, who has been with the Minnesota Twins since breaking into the majors in 1999, was 6-10 with a 5.65 ERA last year after undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2003.
His best year was 2001, when he went 17-13 -- his only winning record in the majors -- and was named to the AL All-Star team.
"With a guy coming off Tommy John surgery, it's usually the second year those guys come around," Baird said. "We like our defense, especially our infield defense, and its potential to be a good fit with a sinkerball pitcher."
Kansas City previously reached agreements with free agent infielders Mark Grudzielanek and Doug Mientkiewicz, pitcher Scott Elarton and backup catcher Paul Bako.
"If something presents itself, we'll surely take a look at it," Baird said. "But as of right now, we think we've addressed our needs as we head into the offseason."
Giants
SAN FRANCISCO -- Utility infielder Jose Vizcaino returned to the San Francisco Giants, agreeing to a $1.25 million, one-year contract.
The 37-year-old Vizcaino, the Giants' starting shortstop in 1997, should provide the team with flexibility at first base in place of the departed J.T. Snow and could share time with both Mark Sweeney and Lance Niekro, who is coming off a solid rookie season.
Vizcaino, who can earn about $400,000 more in performance bonuses, played all four spots in the infield last season for the Houston Astros. He also could get time at third base -- Pedro Feliz is slated as the new starter -- after the Giants dealt Edgardo Alfonzo to the Los Angeles Angels this week for Steve Finley.