2008 Preview: Kansas City Royals

There's a new manager, some good young talent, and a few free-agent additions, but everything is not quite up to date in Kansas City. The Royals should be improved, but not enough to contend in the rugged AL Central. Young hitters Alex Gordon and Billy Butler are developing into potential stars, but the team must shore up so many other areas to return to their glory days of 20 years ago.

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KANSAS CITY ROYALS
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If the Royals are going to move from perennial loser -- one winning season since 1994 -- to contender, they will need youngsters 3B Alex Gordon, DH/1B Billy Butler, OF Mark Teahen, CF David DeJesus, 1B Ryan Shealy, SS Tony Pena Jr. and C John Buck to make significant strides in 2008. That will be more important than the addition of Jose Guillen to the middle of the batting order.
Shealy, coming off hamstring injuries and a poor season, Ross Gload, who has been more of a utility player, and Butler, who can hit but his defense is deficient, will duke it out for the first base vacancy. The Royals must also determine who will be at the back end of the rotation. Still to be determined is whether Teahen or Guillen will play right field; whoever doesn't will be in left.
C Miguel Olivo has taken some flyballs in left field, but it is doubtful he would be used in the outfield during the regular season. "I don't want to confuse anyone. This is a backup, backup, backup option," manager Trey Hillman said.
ARRIVALS: OF Jose Guillen (free agent from Mariners), LHP Ron Mahay (free agent from Braves), RHP Brett Tomko (free agent from Padres), RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta (free agent from Japan), C Miguel Olivo (free agent from Marlins), INF Alberto Callaspo (trade with Diamondbacks), RHP Hideo Nomo (non-roster invite), RHP Brian Lawrence (free agent from Mets), RHP Ramon Colon (trade with Tigers) LHP Mike Maroth (free agent from Cardinals).
DEPARTURES: 1B/DH Mike Sweeney and OF Emil Brown (free agents, to Athletics), RHP David Riske (free agent, to Brewers), RHP Billy Buckner (traded to Diamondbacks), OF Reggie Sanders (non-tendered free agent), C Jason LaRue (free agent, to Cardinals), LHP Odalis Perez (free agent, to Nationals).
PROJECTED ROTATION:
1. RHP Gil Meche
2. RHP Brian Bannister
3. RHP Zack Greinke
4. RHP Brett Tomko
5. LHP Mike Maroth or Jorge De La Rosa
Meche was better than his 9-13 record, but the Royals' offense disappeared on most days he started. Bannister was 12-9 with a 3.87 ERA in 27 starts as a rookie, so it will be interesting to see how the league adjusts to him in his sophomore season. Greinke has the stuff and command to be a top-of-the-rotation guy, and how he advances will be pivotal if KC is to advance in the standings. Tomko was signed to be the No. 4 or 5 starter, but he was awful with the Dodgers last year -- 2-11 with a 5.80 ERA and removed from the rotation before being released in August. The Royals would prefer Maroth or De La Rosa wins a rotation slot, which would give them at least one left-hander in the five, but that final rotation slot is wide open.
PROJECTED BULLPEN:
RHP Joakim Soria (closer)
RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta
LHP Ron Mahay
LHP Jimmy Gobble
LHP John Bale
RHP Joel Peralta
RHP Ryan Braun
Soria, a Rule 5 pick from the Padres, logged 17 saves as a rookie. He is not an overpowering closer but has four quality pitches. Yabuta has been successful in Japan, where new manager Hillman is familiar with him. The Royals will miss RHP David Riske, who had a 2.45 ERA in 65 appearances, but he signed with the Brewers. With a rotation that could be all right-handers if Jorge De La Rosa does not earn a slot, the Royals can use three quality left-handers -- Mahay, Gobble and Bale -- in the bullpen. Peralta is durable and can be utilized in a variety of roles. Braun throws hard, but 22 walks in 39 1/3 innings puts more gray hairs on the pitching coach's head.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
1. CF David DeJesus
2. 2B Mark Grudzielanek
3. RF Mark Teahen
4. LF Jose Guillen
5. DH Billy Butler
6. 1B Ryan Shealy
7. 3B Alex Gordon
8. C John Buck
9. SS Tony Pena Jr.
DeJesus scored a team-leading 101 runs last year, although his batting average dropped 35 points from .295 in 2006 to .260 in 2007. Grudzielanek had his knee scoped twice last year but was voted the Royals' Player of the Year after he hit .302. The Royals signed Guillen to beef up a puny offense. His power and .460 slugging percentage should help the offense produce more runs. Butler and Gordon have hit well in the minors and could make quantum leaps forward from their rookie season. Buck led the club with 18 home runs but only three after the All-Star break. Pena went 65 consecutive games without a walk last year. Ross Gload could wrestle the first base job from Shealy.
PROJECTED RESERVES:
C Miguel Olivo
INF Esteban German
INF Alberto Callaspo
OF Joey Gathright
Olivo has some pop and hits well at Kauffman Stadium. He could push John Buck for playing time. Callaspo is a switch hitter whose best position is second base. He could be the second baseman of the future. Gathright is one of the fastest players in baseball but had only nine steals in 17 attempts last season. German can play all the infield positions and the outfield in a pinch. If Gload is not the starting first baseman, he will be a utility player, capable of playing the outfield corners.
TOP ROOKIES: Although RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta is 34 and has had success in Japan, (2.73 ERA last year), he is considered a rookie. He will set up closer RHP Joakim Soria. RHP Luke Hochevar, the first player selected in the 2006 draft, could win the fifth slot in the rotation with a strong March.
MEDICAL WATCH: RHP Luke Hudson (shoulder surgery in June 2007) made only one start last season before needing the operation. He's being brought along slowly in spring training. ... SS Angel Sanchez (groin) sat out the Feb. 25 workout. He missed all of last season following elbow surgery in March 2007.