This is part of a 30-article series looking at each team’s depth chart headed into spring training. Kansas City Royals Rotation 1. Zack Greinke 2. Gil Meche 3. Brian Bannister 4. Luke Hochevar 5. Kyle Davies 6. Robinson Tejeda 7. Kyle Farnsworth 8. Jorge Campillo 9. Bruce Chen 10. Anthony Lerew 11. Brad Thompson 12. Blake Johnson 13. Blake Wood 14. Aaron Crow 15. Noel Arguelles Bannister and Davies are due a combined $4.1 million this year, so both figure to have spots in the rotation. Still, it’d be a shame if Tejeda is left out after going 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in six starts at the end of last season. He has more upside than the three pitchers above him. Odds are that he’ll start off in the bullpen and then get another look as a starter come May or June. Bullpen 1. Joakim Soria 2. Carlos Rosa 3. Kyle Farnsworth 4. Juan Cruz 5. Robinson Tejeda 6. Roman Colon 7. Brad Thompson 8. Matt Herges 9. Victor Marte 10. Dusty Hughes 11. Bruce Chen 12. Philip Humber 13. Jorge Campillo 14. Anthony Lerew 15. Edgar Osuna 16. John Parrish 17. Josh Rupe 18. Bryan Bullington 19. Adam Bostick 20. Francisco Rosario Unless either Farnsworth or Tejeda can win a place in the rotation, the Royals would seem to have six spots spoken for here. I’m putting Thompson and Herges next, but the team doesn’t currently have a lefty penciled into the bullpen. Hughes, Chen, Osuna and Parrish could compete for the role unless the team signs a veteran.
Catcher 1. Jason Kendall 2. Brayan Pena 3. Vance Wilson 4. Edwin Bellorin First base 1. Billy Butler 2. Wilson Betemit 3. Kila Ka’aihue 4. Josh Fields 5. Scott Thorman Second base 1. Alberto Callaspo 2. Chris Getz 3. Mike Aviles 4. Willie Bloomquist 5. Jeff Bianchi Third base 1. Alex Gordon 2. Josh Fields 3. Alberto Callaspo 4. Willie Bloomquist 5. Wilson Betemit 6. Mario Lisson Shortstop 1. Yuniesky Betancourt 2. Willie Bloomquist 3. Mike Aviles 4. Mario Lisson Getz’s defense might get him the nod over Callaspo at second base, though the Royals would be benching their second-best hitter from 2009 if they went that route. If they truly feel that strongly about Callaspo’s defense, they’d still probably be better off starting him at DH over Jose Guillen. Left field 1. Scott Podsednik 2. Willie Bloomquist 3. Brian Anderson 4. Jordan Parraz 5. Buck Coats Center field 1. Rick Ankiel 2. Willie Bloomquist 3. Brian Anderson 4. Mitch Maier 5. Jarrod Dyson Right field 1. David DeJesus 2. Jose Guillen 3. Willie Bloomquist 4. Brian Anderson 5. Josh Fields Designated hitter 1. Jose Guillen 2. Josh Fields 3. Alberto Callaspo 4. Wilson Betemit 5. Kila Ka’aihue It’s a lineup that includes one sure thing in DeJesus, an emerging star in Butler and six question marks. And Kendall. Bloomquist is the only player guaranteed a bench spot. Another will go to Pena or Wilson as Kendall’s backup. That leaves two openings for the loser in the Callaspo-Getz competition, Fields, Aviles, Betemit, Anderson and Maier. I’d say Getz and Fields have the advantages there, but if Aviles shows he’s healthy after Tommy John surgery, a Callaspo trade will become a strong possibility.
