by Sports Xchange

--CF Coco Crisp's $8 million option for 2010 was declined by the Royals, who paid him a $500,000 buyout. Crisp hit .238 in 49 games before being shut down with shoulder injuries. He had surgery on both shoulders. Crisp, who turned 30 on Nov. 1, could return with a less lucrative contract that would escalate based on games played.

--RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta's $4 million option for next year was not picked up by the Royals, who paid him a $500,000 buyout. Yabuta, a Japanese import, has been disappointing in two seasons with the Royals, going 3-4 with a 7.14 ERA in 43 relief appearances.

--RHP Aaron Crow, the Royals' top pick in the 2009 draft, was struggling in the Arizona Fall League. In two starts, he had allowed nine hits, walked two and given up six runs in 7 1/3 innings. Crow was a 2008 first-round pick of the Nationals and did not sign. He did not sign with the Royals until September and has pitched scant innings the past two years.

--RHP Jario Cuevas, who was eligible for minor league free agency, re-signed with the Royals. He was originally signed with the Braves and had shoulder surgery in August 2008.

BY THE NUMBERS: .198 -- The Royals' batting average in losing four of six to the World Series champion New York Yankees.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "My text messages have been blowing up." -- INF/OF Mark Teahen, on reports of his pending trade to the White Sox.