Kansas City Royals Positional Battles Heading into Spring Training

Second Base: Omar Infante vs. Christian Colon

When Omar Infante was signed prior to the 2014 season, he was supposed to be the answer at second base. Instead, after two disappointing seasons that has seen Infante produce a combined .238/.268/.329 batting line with eight home runs and WAR of exactly zero, second base is no longer promised.

Instead, Infante will have competition in the form of Christian Colon. Colon has displayed a solid ability to make contact, but with only 168 major league plate appearances at age 26, he is just as much of a question mark as Infante is at this point. Can his career .303/.361/.382 batting line and 12.5% strikeout rate hold up over a full season?

Ultimately, the cost to keep Infante on the bench may be the deciding factor. His $17.75 Million salary over the next two seasons would be difficult to put into a utility role for a team that has had the payroll concerns that the Royals have had in the past. As long as he can continue to play solid defense and continue his chemistry with Alcides Escobar, then he is likely to start.

However, that is not a given. If Infante struggles to find his offense during Spring Training and Colon is hitting well, the Royals may be forced to give Colon his chance. Either through injury or ineffectiveness, it would not be a surprise to see Colon at second on Opening Night.

Next: The second revolving door

Right Field: Jarrod Dyson vs. everyone

As things currently stand, Jarrod Dyson is pencilled in as the Kansas City Royals starting right fielder for the 2016 season. He has certainly waited for this opportunity, serving as the Royals fourth outfielder for the past four seasons, using his speed to produce a career .255/.320/.343 batting line with 146 stolen bases.

The problem is that Dyson offers virtually nothing else but his speed offensively. Likewise, Dyson has a career .211/.288/.249 batting line against lefties, meaning that Paulo Orlando is likely to get a decent amount of work in a platoon role. But is this really the best option in what has been a revolving door for the Royals?

There are also plenty of other internal candidates for the job. Minor leagues Brett Eibner and Jose Martinez could get a long look, not just for a backup spot on the roster, but for the starting job. If Reymond Fuentes is healthy and over his illness, he could be in the mix, as could Travis Snider, who was recently signed to a minor league contract.

Even if Dyson begins the season as the starter, he may not keep that job all year. Right field could be a revolving door all year, with the Royals hoping that Bubba Starling can solidify the position beginning in 2017. If Dyson is going to be a starter, it may be now or never.

Next: Who will be the fourth and fifth starters?

The back end of the rotation: Danny Duffy vs. Kris Medlen vs. Chris Young

Last season, the Kansas City Royals won the World Series seemingly in spite of their starters. Royals starters had a 4.34 ERA, 22nd in baseball, while their 912.2 innings ranked 24th. The answer to those issues this offseason – replace Johnny Cueto with Ian Kennedy.

While Kennedy, Yordano Ventura and Edinson Volquez are entrenched in the top three spots in the rotation, the hoped for improvement would come from the fourth and fifth starters. There, we find Kris Medlen, Danny Duffy, Chris Young, and possibly Miguel Almonte, Kyle Zimmer and Dillion Gee all hoping to earn a place in the starting rotation.

While the Royals have not counted out the idea of Zimmer getting a chance in the early part of the 2016 season, the battle is likely to be between Duffy, Medlen and Young. Young performed well last season, but the Royals managed his innings last season to keep him from wearing down. Duffy regressed mightily last year, and may be a better option in the bullpen. Medlen, meanwhile, has had two Tommy John surgeries, which could prove to be a problem as a starter.

Chances are, even without injury concerns, the back of the Royals rotation will continue to be a revolving door until Zimmer, Almonte or another of the young starters are ready to take their place. The issues from last season still appear to be present.

Next: Building on a strength

Who fills out the back of the Kansas City Royals bullpen?

Over the past three years, the Royals bullpen has been a true strength. They made sure to keep that advantage this offseason, signing Joakim Soria to give the Royals a potentially dominant trio with Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis. However, beyond that trio, there are a number of question marks in the Royals relief corps, to the point where they have been looking for additional bullpen help.

Even though Luke Hochevar and Tim Collins are essentially locks to make the Royals, both have question marks. Collins is coming off Tommy John surgery, and his career 5.2 BB/9, declining strikeout rate (from 12.0/9 in 2012 to 6.4/9 in 2014) and 1.398 WHiP do not inspire confidence. Hochevar will be another year removed from his own surgery, and will look to build upon his 3.73 ERA and 1.283 WHiP.

Should the Royals go with a seven man bullpen, one final spot would be open after the battle for the starting rotation is figured out. Should Duffy be the odd man out, the Royals would have that second lefty reliever they may need. Otherwise, options like Brian Flynn and Scott Alexander could get a longer look. The young starters, like Zimmer and Almonte, may also be candidates for that final bullpen spot.

Next: Did the Royals tank to win?

For most teams, that final reliever is not a major concern. However, the Kansas City Royals pride themselves on their strong bullpen, making this decision one that could matter over the course of the season.