Say all you want about the Royals being a small-market baseball team. Kansas City still has 11 millionaires on its 25-man roster.

Time was when a million-dollar salary meant something in pro baseball. Today, though, even pitcher Blake Stein, who went into this season with a 21-24 record and a 5.14 earned run average, is a millionaire, and then some.

Now that still another non-winning season is all but a certainty for the Royals, here’s an assessment of KC’s seven-figure wage earners:

Mike Sweeney ($8 million) Worth almost every penny. No Baryshnikov around the bag, Sweeney is nevertheless a doubles- and singles-hitting machine. Basically, a right-handed hitting George Brett, although he lacks Brett’s speed. Unlike Brett, probably won’t finish his career in KC. What would Sweeney’s numbers look like if he played 81 games a year in Denver?

Roberto Hernandez ($6 million) If this is how much an average closer earns, then Hernandez is not overpaid. An aging right-hander who would probably be a set-up man with a contender.

Jeff Suppan ($4.15 million) Innings. Suppan eats innings like figure skating eats judges. Royals know he’ll be out there every fifth day and give them six or seven quality innings. On the flip side, Suppan may surrender as many or more home runs than Barry Bonds hits.

Neifi Perez ($4.1 million) Lately new skipper Tony Peas been using Perez in the leadoff spot which is sort of like sending a message to Garcia with a passenger pigeon. Perez doesn’t draw bases on balls and he doesn’t steal bases. Then again, Pewho never walked as a player, wouldn’t know a leadoff man from the Phog Allen statue. (See Michael Tucker below).

Joe Randa ($4 million) Consummate professional who goes out to third base every day, fields OK but not great, hits in streaks and never suffers a serious injury. Royals have fingers crossed because they have no one in farm system ready to step in and replace him.

Carlos Beltran ($3.5 million) Remember when Bret Saberhagen fell into a pattern of having a good year, then a bad year, followed by another good year and so on? Beltran seems to have the same modus operendi. Still only 25 years old, he should be an All-Star, but isn’t. Yet.

Brent Mayne ($2.5 million) Mamma let your babies grow up to be left-handed hitting catchers with sound back-stopping skills. If Mayne can make 2 1/2 million bucks, just think what your son will command.

Michael Tucker ($2.25 million) Why isn’t Tucker leading off? Yeah, I know he’s hitting only .216, but his onbase percentage is .341 and he’s stolen 11 bases. The guy draws walks and he can run. And he’s batting sixth? Jeez.

Chuck Knoblauch ($2 million) Over-the-hill veteran whose stolen-base acumen has been exceeded only by his ability to steal the Royals’ money.

Jason Grimsley ($1.9 million) Pretty good set-up man. That’s about it.

Blake Stein ($1.3 million) A tall (Stein stands 6-foot-7) package of potential wrapped in enigma, taped by paradox and stamped with three-dollar bills.

Most Underpaid Royal Retread hurler Paul Byrd ($850,000) has won eight games. Somehow.

Most Overpaid Royal Outfielder-designated hitter Raul Iba($800,000) is hitting .208 with a .302 slugging average and could be handed a road map to Omaha soon.

Bargain Basement Best Buy Donnie Sadler. Little guy can’t hit a lick, but he’s fast, can play several positions and earns a mere $255,000.

Save Your Money Luis Alicea. Switch-hitting infielder looks good in a uniform and earns as much as Iba but isn’t much of a glove man and is in danger of losing sight of the Mendoza Line.