A number of Royals moves on Monday moved the team closer to setting their 25-man roster for the start of the season, as Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star and other reporters have noted. Here’s the breakdown of where the Royals’ roster stands:
- First, the team optioned lefty Scott Alexander and outfielders Billy Burns and Peter O’Brien to Triple-A Omaha and assigned catcher Zane Evans, infielder Humberto Arteaga and relievers Yender Caramo, Eric Stout, Al Alburquerque and Malcom Culver to minor-league camp. The moves left veteran righty Peter Moylan as the Royals’ clear choice for the last spot in their bullpen. (Another veteran, Seth Maness, remains in camp, but he is recovering from injury and will not be ready for Opening Day.) Moylan’s minor-league deal with the Royals contains an opt-out clause tomorrow, so the team seems likely to place him on their 40-man roster shortly. Moylan allowed just one run in eight Spring Training innings, striking out six and walking one.
- Royals manager Ned Yost also announced that Raul Mondesi would serve as the team’s starting second baseman, beating Whit Merrifield, Christian Colon and Cheslor Cuthbert. Cuthbert will make the team, while Merrifield and Colon are still competing for a bench job. The 21-year-old Mondesi was the surprise winner of the job after batting just .185/.231/.281 in 149 plate appearances in his rookie season in 2016, but he was previously a top prospect and had a very strong spring, batting .378/.391/.623.
- Finally, Jorge Soler, who had been projected to start in right field, suffered a strained oblique this weekend and appears likely to begin the season on the disabled list. It’s only a grade I strain, MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan tweets, and Soler may be able to begin resuming baseball activities in a week, so perhaps he can avoid a lengthy absence. That means Paulo Orlando will likely begin the season as the team’s right fielder, with Brandon Moss also occasionally helping at the position. Terrance Gore, who the Royals value for his speed and defensive ability, now seems likely to occupy a bench spot with Soler on the shelf.
Peter O’Brien sighting!
Jorge Soler injured? What a shocker…
Would like to see him healthy and able to show what he can do as a starting OF. Hope he heals quickly and helps the Royals.
Good luck with that. Soler seems like a different player since his first year with the Cubs.
A few thoughts here.. We would all love to see Soler pan out and become the next Nelson Cruz.. But that might destroy the club.Cain wants to stay if the money is reasonable.But the club seems to be holding Cain as a bargaining chip if they need a late season arm if we are contending. And if we are not contending to pry some prospects away from a contender. They feel this can be done because Orlando can produce similar numbers cheaper and play equal or better defense. Fine but Gordon, Orlando and Soler seems like a Kmart Blue light special outfield.And if Gordon shows any sign of wear and tear in the field that outfield could be dreadful.Gordon, Cain and Orlando.starting with Gore as a 4th man could save a lot of runs and make our rotation viable. Better to consider dealing Soler or Moss for pitching and using O’Brien at DH and signing Cain to a deal similar to the one given to the one Gordon received. then we can run Orlando out in right until Bonifacio is ready.
rien
Hahahahaha. Silver won’t play until it gets warm out. That’s a fact
That’s not true. The Lone Ranger and Silver worked in all kinds of weather.
Hate to see soler injured but unfortunately he just can’t stay healthy.
Peter Obrien doesn’t get rave reviews on his defense as a catcher or OF
Seriously, the only GD player I cared about this whole spring was Peter O’Brien. Really hoping he finds those rave reviews in Triple A. #KeepGoingPeter
so the only player you cared about was a young Adam Dunn?
More like a Young Chris Davis or even a Young David Ortiz.
O’Brien has nothing left to prove in The minors.. He has leveled them and then some.. He needs a year or 2 of playing everyday to see if he can put up the video game totals he amassed in the minors in the big Show.
He’s “leveled them and then some” in what way, exactly? He struck out in 34% of his ABs in AAA last year at an age where most guys who make it to the majors are already playing in the majors. Maybe he’ll be a late bloomer, but his strikeout rate better improve quickly for that to happen.
I like Peter Moylan glad he had a good spring.
Yeah, enjoyed watching him when I lived in Atlanta. Solid guy. Always pulling for him and Medlen.
Soler couldn’t stay healthy with the Cubs. Good luck.
Three biggest concerns for this season:
1. Soler
2. Mondesi
3. Soria