The Royals have had a major overhaul of their roster from a year ago with 12 players on the 2008 opening-day roster not on the 25-man roster when the season starts Monday.
The biggest turnover is in the pitching staff, where 60 percent of the 2008 rotation will not be in the 2009 rotation. John Bale, Brian Bannister and Brett Tomko were in the rotation last April, but not this year. Bale will begin the season on the disabled list as he regains his strength after having thyroid surgery in March. Bannister was optioned to Class AAA Omaha. Tomko was released last June 24 with a 2-7 record and 6.97 ERA.
Also absent from the opening-day 2008 staff are Yaushiko Yabuta, who is in Omaha; Jimmy Gobble, who was released March 18; Ramon Ramirez, who was traded to the Red Sox; and Leo Nunez, who was traded to the Marlins.
Catcher Matt Tupman, who is batting 1.000 in the majors (1-for-1), returns to Omaha. Tupman made the 2008 opening-day roster because Miguel Olivo was serving a suspension the first four games.
Ross Gload, the 2008 opening day first baseman, was traded April 1 to the Florida Marlins. Mark Grudzielanek filed for free agency after the season, but did not sign with any club. Utility player Esteban German was put on waivers March 8 and signed a minor league contract with the Cubs.
The Royals non-tendered Joey Gathright, who was a spare outfielder, in December and he signed with the Cubs.
THE ROYALS WILL CONTEND IF ...: Gil Meche and Zack Greinke stay healthy and win 15 or more games; Kyle Davies pitches all season the way he did in September, when he was 4-1 with a 2.27 earned-run average; Coco Crisp has a high on-base percentage and scores 100 runs; and Alex Gordon cuts down on his strikeouts (257 the last two seasons) and increases his batting average (career .253).
PRIMED FOR A BIG SEASON: Zack Greinke walked out of spring training in 2006 but in 2009 is ready to blossom into a big winner. He signed a four-year contract extension in January to remain a Royal. Greinke, the sixth player selected in the 2002 draft, went 13-10 with a 3.47 ERA with 183 strikeouts in 32 starts in 2008, his best season in the majors.
ON THE DECLINE: Jose Guillen no longer covers the ground in right field that he once did. His average dipped from .290 in 2007 with the Mariners to .262 last year. He led the club with 20 home runs and 97 runs batted in but hit only seven home runs and drove in 32 runs after the All-Star break.
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