After the Royals lost all three games left-hander John Bale started last April and he had an unsightly 7.63 ERA in that month, the Royals did not start another southpaw the rest of the season.
Bale re-signed with the Royals but will be in the bullpen in 2009 after finishing strong last year -- he allowed no runs and only four hits in 11 1/3 innings in 10 September relief appearances, and the Royals went 8-2 in those games. The Royals, however, would prefer to mix one left-hander into the rotation, and that could be Horacio Ramirez, who pitched well for the Royals in relief last season.
Kansas City signed Ramirez after he was released in spring training by the Mariners. In 15 relief outings with Kansas City, Ramirez was 1-1 with a 2.59 ERA.
The Royals traded Ramirez to the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 9 for minor league outfielder Paulo Orlando. Ramirez did not pitch well for the American League Central Division champions, going 0-2 with a 7.62 ERA.
Kansas City signed Ramirez as a free agent, but in 2009 he will get every opportunity to be in the rotation.
Ramirez was mostly a starter with the Mariners and Braves before 2008 and went 12-4 in 29 starts as a rookie in 2003 with Atlanta. He was 7-6 in 20 starts with the Mariners in 2007 but had injuries and posted a ghastly 7.16 ERA. In 104 career starts, Ramirez is 38-29 with a 4.55 ERA.
The Royals had two left-handers in their 2007 rotation, Odalis Perez and Jorge De La Rosa, but their 2008 rotation was top-heavy with right-handers, anchored by Gil Meche, Zack Greinke and Brian Bannister.
Right-hander Kyle Davies, who finished the season strong, also figures to be in the 2009 rotation. Another candidate is right-hander Luke Hochevar, the first player picked in the 2006 draft.
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