Billy Butler and Mike Jacobs probably will share the first base and designated hitter roles, but neither is considered a good fielder.

"Both of them are making the routine plays," Hillman said. "Both of them have made some nice plays."

The Royals could keep Ross Gload or Ryan Shealy, both considered superior first basemen defensively to Butler and Jacobs, but there is also a chance neither will make the club.

Gload has a guaranteed contract, and Shealy is out of options.

The picture is no clearer at second base, where Alberto Callaspo, Mark Teahen and Willie Bloomquist are in the picture.

Teahen has hit five home runs and has a .462 average in 26 at-bats after missing time to play for Canada in the WBC, but he has not played second since he was a sophomore in college. He is doing on-the-job training in spring training.

Callaspo has been struggling at the plate -- .186 with no walks in 17 games.

Bloomquist, a super sub when he was with the Mariners, is trying to shed his label as a utilityman and win the starting second base job.

"I know everybody wants answers," Hillman said. "Everyone wants me to say, 'OK, this guy is going to get the majority of the reps at first. This guy is going to get the majority of the reps at second.'

"I don't know the answers, and if I don't have those answers by Opening Day, I'm OK with that."