Report: Brandon Moss close to deal with Royals - MLB

Free agent first baseman/outfielder Brandon Moss is close to signing a two-year, $12 million deal with the Royals, per ESPN’s Jim Bowden. Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reported the terms of the contract and adds that the deal is pending a physical, which appears to be scheduled for this week. The team has yet to confirm the acquisition.

Moss, 33, finished a two-year track with the Cardinals in 2016, batting .225/.300/.484 with 28 home runs and a .784 OPS. His power surge during the first half of the season (.256/.344/.566 with 17 homers in 250 PA) seemed to encourage extension talks with the club, but after an untimely slump in September, the Cardinals declined to extend a qualifying offer.

While the veteran slugger split time between first base and the corner outfield spots in St. Louis, he’s expected to see significant time as a left-handed DH option for Kansas City in 2017, as they already have viable starters in first baseman Eric Hosmer and outfielders Jorge Soler and Alex Gordon.

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LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated by the New York Yankees ahead of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York cleared three roster spots after a 1-0 loss at Seattle, optioning infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook.

Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.

Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.

Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.

Aaron Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.

New York is missing centerfielder Harrison Bader, who strained his right hamstring against the Mariners and went on the injured list the next day.

Left-hander Carlos Rodón, sidelined since spring training by a sore left forearm and an ailing back, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.