Manager will go from Japan to Kansas City

Trey Hillman was hired Friday as manager of the Kansas City Royals, taking over a long-struggling team that hasn’t been to the playoffs since winning the 1985 World Series.

Hillman, currently managing the Nippon Ham Fighters in the Japan World Series, spent 13 years managing in the New York Yankees’ minor league system and three times was a manager of the year.

Hillman, 44, replaces Buddy Bell, who completed the season with Kansas City after saying in August he would step aside. The Royals finished 69-93, last in the American League Central for the fourth straight year.

Hillman has never played or managed in the majors.

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Orlando Hernandez had surgery on his right foot, and the New York Mets’ pitcher was expected to be ready for spring training.

Hernandez had a bunion removed from his second toe. An ailing foot interrupted his season, and the Mets collapsed down the stretch without him.

New York lost 12 of its last 17 games and blew a seven-game cushion in the National League East, missing the playoffs after one of the biggest meltdowns in baseball history.

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Corey Koskie became eligible for free agency when the Milwaukee Brewers declined his $6.5-million option for 2008. The 34-year-old third baseman gets a $500,000 buyout. He did not play this season after dealing with the effects of a concussion he received in 2006.