Tampa, Fla. ? Kansas City Royals right-hander Chad Durbin and team manager Tony Muser had a difference of opinion on how Durbin pitched Friday.

Durbin thought he threw OK and was just missing with his pitches in the Royals’ 10-6 loss to the New York Yankees.

Muser thought otherwise.

“This outing was a little disappointing for me,” Muser said. “He walked guys and gave up a home run, which is not a good combination. He’s got to improve. He should be coming along better than he threw today.

“The first inning he worked hard to keep the ball down. The second inning philosophically he came undone.”

Durbin threw an inordinate 81 pitches in 31¼3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, including an Alfonso Soriano three-run homer in the second, and three walks.

“I thought I threw some good pitches,” Durbin said. “I’m not happy about it, but I got my pitches in. I wasn’t going to give in to them.”

Sweeney wants deal before opener

Mike Sweeney, eligible for free agency after this season, won’t negotiate a contract extension with the Kansas City Royals after the April 1 season opener.

Club owner David Glass wants to open negotiations with Sweeney before the season. In the past, Glass had said he preferred to wait until a new labor contract was agreed to before negotiating a multiyear contract with Sweeney, an AL All-Star at first base the past two years.

Players and owners have recessed talks until after opening day.

“They have made it known they will attempt to negotiate a contract,” Sweeney said. “I’ll wait and see how it goes. If it’s not done by opening day, I’m not going to negotiate during the season. I don’t want it to be a distraction once the season starts.”

Royals trade Sonnier to Cubs

The Royals traded Shawn Sonnier to the Chicago Cubs on Friday, completing the deal that brought Michael Tucker back to Kansas City.

Sonnier, 25, a right-handed reliever, was 5-5 with six saves and a 4.82 ERA at Triple-A Omaha in 2001. The Royals signed him as a free agent in 1998.