HAINES CITY, Fla. Declaring the future of baseball in KansasCity is at stake, the Royals traded Cy Young Award winner David Coneand his $5 million salary to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday forthree minor-leaguers.
"Our No. 1 goal is to keep baseball in Kansas City and keep itviable," general manager Herk Robinson said.
Toronto was pleased at the return of Cone, who helped the BlueJays win the 1992 World Series.
"David's our No. 1 starter now," Blue Jays manager Cito Gastonsaid. "We'll try to start the season with him."
Robinson said Cone's union activities had "nothing whatsoever"to do with the trade.
"We got three players in return we think can be very, very goodplayers in the future," Robinson said of infielders Chris Stynes andTony Medrano and relief pitcher David Sinnes.
Cone, a Kansas City native and one of the team's most popularplayers, was 16-5 with a 2.94 ERA in the strike-shortened 1994 seasonand has a 111-70 career record.
"It's a sad day," Cone said. "But I understand it from theRoyals' standpoint. They're doing what they have to do, and I hopeit works out. I've had nothing but good experiences with thisorganization."
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