Inside Pitch: Grudzielanek golden

Mark Grudzielanek last week brought home his first career Gold Glove, and RC's Inside Pitch today takes a look at his excellent season, along with notes and quotes from the last week and the free agent decisions facing the Royals this offseason.

Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek became only the second Royal to earn a Gold Glove since 1989.

Grudzielanek, who is 36 and has played in the majors since 1995, won his first Gold Glove. He logged a .994 fielding percentage, which ranked second to Frank White's .998 percentage among Royals second basemen.

"For this to happen, it's really motivation to do more and come back stronger and put forth an effort like I did this past year," Grudzielanek said.

The Royals had two Gold Glove winners in 1989, catcher Bob Boone and starting pitcher Bret Saberhagen. They did not have another Gold Glove fielder until 2000, when outfielder Jermaine Dye was honored.

Grudzielanek made just four errors, a career low, in 132 games. That is tied for the fewest errors by a Royal second baseman. White, who won eight Gold Gloves, made four errors in 1988, and Chico Lind had four errors in 1993. Grudzielanek, who began the season with 77 errorless games, led American League second basemen with 111 double plays.

"It's about positioning a lot out there," Grudzielanek said. "I'm not the quickest, but I'm above-average in everything else. I work on my agility in the offseason."

Grudzielanek did not play after Sept. 20 because of a hamstring injury. He was also bothered by a sore Achilles throughout the season. He said he has been getting treatment for both and already has started working out and lifting weights.

Grudzielanek will be a Royal next year, agreeing to a $4 million contract extension in mid-August with a $4 million player option for 2008.

NOTES, QUOTES

LHP Mark Redman, who led the Royals with 11 victories and was their lone representative in the All-Star Game (although he was not used), has filed for free agency. The Royals have interest in bringing back Redman, who will test the waters and is seeking a multiyear contract. Redman, who turns 33 in January, has played for five clubs -- Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Oakland, Florida and Detroit -- the past five years.

1B Doug Mientkiewicz, who played Gold Glove-caliber defense before being shut down on July 26 with a back injury that would require surgery, filed for free agency. The Royals have no interest in re-signing Mientkiewicz after acquiring 1B Ryan Shealy in a July 31 trade with the Rockies.

Backup C Paul Bako, who filed for free agency, hit just .209 with three extra-base hits (all doubles) in 153 at-bats. The Royals are attempting to upgrade their catching position, so it appears extremely doubtful Bako will be back in 2007.

Even if the Royals offer arbitration to their three free agents -- LHP Mark Redman, 1B Doug Mientkiewicz and C Paul Bako -- they would not receive an extra draft pick should the players sign with another club. Redman and Bako were unranked by position in the Elias Sports Bureau's ratings. Mientkiewicz was ruled a Type C player, but under the new basic agreement, there is no compensation for a Type C. In the past, a Type C player signing with another club who had been offered arbitration would have merited a sandwich-round pick for compensation.

Royals broadcasters Paul Splittorff, Bob Davis and Denny Matthews are all on the ballot for the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Matthews was among the 10 finalists last year.

BY THE NUMBERS: 18 -- Gold Gloves won by Royals players in franchise history.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "You have to see him play every day to appreciate him. He is so fundamentally sound. He doesn't have a lot of flash, but he's solid in everything he does." -- Royals manager Buddy Bell on the play of Gold Glove 2B Mark Grudzielanek.