Royals’ Wathan Gets New Contract Despite Disappointing Season

Just a year to the day after he was named manager of the Kansas City Royals, John Wathan was given a new one-year contract Saturday through the end of the 1989 season.

A player and coach in the Royal organization for 17 years, Wathan managed at Omaha the first part of the 1987 season, before replacing Billy Gardner as Royal manager on Aug. 27, 1987.

The Royals were 21-15 in the final 36 games of ‘87, and Wathan was signed to manage for 1988 last September.

The new contract comes at time when Wathan, who reportedly doesn’t get along with many Royal players, was rumored to be on the way out. John McNamara was thought to be the primary candidate to succeed him if the disappointing Royals were to make a managerial change following the season.

Wathan’s uncertain status seemed to be weighing on his players’ minds.

Bret Saberhagen, 2-7 since June 26, when he was 10-6, was removed from Wednesday’s start against Texas with a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning. The Royals lost, 4-3.

“He came to the mound and said ‘I’m making a move,’ ” Saberhagen said of Wathan. “I said, ‘Why?’ He said, ‘Do I need a reason?’ I have no idea why he took me out, but at this point he may just be trying to protect himself.”