Royals looking at Hillman

? Trey Hillman, who has long been considered a possible sleeper candidate within the New York Yankees’ organization in the event Joe Torre departed, is in serious negotiations to be the next manager of the Kansas City Royals, ESPN.com reported Thursday night.

Hillman, 44, has managed Japan’s Nippon Ham Fighters in recent seasons, after years as a manager within the Yankees’ minor-league system. He previously has interviewed to be the manager of the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics.

The Nippon Ham Fighters beat Bobby Valentine’s Chiba Lotte Marines, 6-2, Thursday to win the Pacific League championship series in Japan. The Royals have been seeking a possible replacement for Buddy Bell. Bell, 56, took a job with the Chicago White Sox as the organization’s director of minor-league instruction on Oct. 9.