Seven More Cuts in Royals Camp

Bob Dutton reported that seven more players have been cut from major league camp and reassigned to minor league camp prior to tonight’s game with the Reds.

The moves signify the Royals focusing their attention towards opening day after getting a look at prospects and players who might contribute at the big league level in 2011.  They have 42 players in major league camp competing for spots.

The seven non-roster invitees who were sent to minor league camp today were Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Salvador Perez, Joaquin Arias, Blaine Hardy, Cody Clark and Brett Carroll.

After optioning players on the 40 man roster to minor league teams, the Royals have 33 players on the 40 man roster in camp and plenty of unanswered questions.

Players still in camp (*indicates player is not on 40 man roster)

Pitchers

• Nathan Adcock (Rule 5)
• Jesse Chavez
• Bruce Chen
• Louis Coleman*
• Tim Collins*
• Aaron Crow
• Kyle Davies
• Danny Duffy*
• Robert Fish (Rule 5)
• Jeff Francis
• Luke Hochevar
• Greg Holland
• Jeremy Jeffress
• Vin Mazzaro
• Luis Mendoza*
• Zach Miner*
• Mike Montgomery*
• Sean O’Sullivan
• Joakim Soria
• Robinson Tejeda
• Kanekoa Texeira
• Blake Wood

Catchers

• Jason Kendall
• Luke May
• Brayan Pena
• Manuel Pina

Infielders

• Mike Aviles
• Wilson Betemit
• Billy Butler
• Alcides Escobar
• Irving Falu*
• Pedro Feliz*
• Chris Getz
• Kila Ka’aihue
• Lance Zawadzki*

Outfielders

• Gregor Blanco
• Melky Cabrera
• Lorenzo Cain
• Jarrod Dyson
• Jeff Francoeur
• Alex Gordon
• Mitch Maier

Some of the next cuts should come tonight or in the morning.  The most intrigue is with the pitching staff.  There are locks like Hochevar, Francis, Davies and Chen in the rotation, but the Royals have enough open dates in April to run with a four man rotation for a while and may opt for an extra position player or bullpen arm to start the season.  Sean O’Sullivan and Vin Mazzaro have options to accommodate that kind of roster tinkering.

The bullpen is almost wide open.  While Miner is going to end up in the minors to rehabilitate his elbow and Montgomery is likely to start the year in Double A or Triple A, the group of Coleman, Collins, Duffy and Mendoza could all make the bullpen to open 2011.  They could also all end up in Omaha.  Nathan Adcock, a Rule 5 pick, is almost certain to make the team after 8 scoreless innings in five spring appearances.

Unfortunately, with Mitch Maier and Gregor Blanco out of options and unlikely to be heavily courted in trade talks, Lorenzo Cain and Jarrod Dyson are destined for Omaha to open the season.  Jason Kendall should start on the DL despite his hopes to return by opening day.  Assuming the Royals keep Rule 5 pick Robert Fish (picked up over the weekend) and go with the four man rotation (and Mazzaro/O’Sullivan in the minors for the first two weeks), there could only be four spots open.

Tim Collins should be safe for a left-handed bullpen role and Mendoza and Texeira have pitched well.  Louis Coleman is probably ready, and there’s the outside chance that Danny Duffy still makes the team (but I think the Fish claim makes that a longshot – they can keep Duffy in Omaha and delay his service time that way).  That still leaves Greg Holland, Jeremy Jeffress and Blake Wood hanging around as bullpen possibilities.

We’ll see either tonight or tomorrow what happens.  To keep any of Coleman, Collins, Duffy or Mendoza, the Royals would have to cut someone from the 40 man roster to make space.  Guys like Kevin Pucetas or Jesse Chavez would probably be the most likely options unless some mystery 60 day DL stint happens to clear a spot (perhaps that Kendall recovery wasn’t as good as it seemed…)

Also, the cuts today indicate that if you were headed to Opening Day at Kauffman Stadium hoping to see Mike Moustakas, you’re going to be out of luck.

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