Kansas City, Mo. ? The Kansas City Royals said Monday they had signed third baseman Jeff Nettles to a minor-league contract out of the independent Atlantic League.

The 28-year-old Nettles, son of former New York Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles, will go to Double-A Wichita, a Royals spokesman said.

Nettles had spent almost five seasons with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League. He’s the franchise career leader in RBIs (377), home runs (103) and doubles (127).

A-Rod’s wife sports curse on tank top

New York – While the Yankees were tanking on the field, general manager Brian Cashman had an additional headache – the tank top worn by Alex Rodriguez’s wife.

Cashman talked to both Alex and Cynthia Rodriguez about the shirt with foul language on the back she wore during New York’s 11-5 loss to Oakland on Sunday.

“I did speak to Cynthia, and she’s part of the family, and obviously we just keep that in house,” Cashman said Monday. “I wouldn’t really comment any further than that.”

Asked if he talked to A-Rod about the issue as well, Cashman said yes. He also acknowledged that the team has a policy prohibiting profane language on clothing and banners in Yankee Stadium.

“Other than that, it stays in house and within this family, and nobody else is invited in,” the GM said.

The slugger’s wife wore a white tank top to the game against the Athletics. A common, two-word obscenity ending with “you” was clearly visible when she and her 2-year-old daughter, along with an unidentified older woman, took their seats in the players’ family section at Yankee Stadium.

A front-page photograph Monday in the New York Post showed the back of the tank top with the obscenity printed in Old English lettering between the shoulder blades. The first letter of the first word is visible; the three other letters are intentionally blurred. The second word is ‘You.’ The paper’s headline read: “F-Rod.”

Mets shelve Perez

Denver – Left-hander Oliver Perez was put on the 15-day disabled list Monday by the New York Mets, a move retroactive to June 27. “He has some soreness in his lower back, but nothing wrong with his arm,” manager Willie Randolph said. Perez is 7-6 with a 3.14 ERA in 15 starts for the Mets, who recalled left-hander Jason Vargas from Triple-A New Orleans to take Perez’s roster spot.

Cardinals demote Reyes

St. Louis – Anthony Reyes, a World Series star last fall for the St. Louis Cardinals, is headed back to the minor leagues again. Reyes, who has lost 12 straight regular-season decisions to tie a franchise record that’s more than a century old, was demoted to Triple-A Memphis for the second time in less than a month on Monday to make room for Braden Looper in the rotation. Considering he’s 0-10 with a 6.40 ERA in 12 starts, he arrived at Busch Stadium anticipating the move.

White Sox GM Williams hopeful for Buehrle deal

Chicago – White Sox general manager Ken Williams said Monday he’s still hoping the team will sign ace lefty Mark Buehrle to a contract extension.

Assistant general manger Rick Hahn and Buehrle’s agent Jeff Berry discussed a new deal last week, but negotiations slowed when the team did not give Buehrle a full no-trade clause, according to published reports.