[tk13]

Glass has spoken.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201....ap/index.html

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Kansas City Royals owner David Glass believes small-market franchises must do whatever it takes to lock up young talent long term, even if it's a sometimes risky proposition.

That means the pressure is on Royals general manager Dayton Moore.

The Royals are expected to field the youngest team in baseball this season, though that hasn't diminished expectations. Many expect them to challenge Detroit in the AL Central behind a cadre of youthful stars such as first baseman Eric Hosmer and third baseman Mike Moustakas.

Glass said he expects Moore to begin discussions with both of them on long-term deals as early as this season, even though they just arrived from the minor leagues last year.

"The Indians, the Rays and other people have had some success in keeping the young ones," Glass told The Associated Press on Monday. "I think we've got a special group, and keeping them together and the best of the crop is really important to us."

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"We like where we are," Dayton Moore said. "Six of the nine players in the lineup for us most days will be homegrown talent, and two of the remaining three will be players we acquired through trades of players that were in our system. Now the players need to go out and play."

The Royals expect another rookie in Lorenzo Cain to start in center field, while left fielder Alex Gordon has talked about signing a long-term deal of his own after a breakout 2011 season.

"It's very slow talks, but I don't think anybody is in a rush to get something done because I have two years left," Gordon said. "Hopefully, eventually, we can get something done."

Glass has always defended the Royals' often meager payroll, but there are signs he's willing to loosen the purse strings - especially if the team is finally in contention.

That could be this season, if expectations turn into results.

"We're never going to be able to do what the big markets do," Glass said. "The Yankees, if they can have $200-million plus, they're always going to have two or three times as much as the rest of us.

"But there's enough flexibility there," he said. "What small markets need to do is position themselves so if they year's going well and they've got a shot at winning their division, then you need to be able to step up and add to that mix whatever you need, whatever you think you need to win."

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