--RHP Joel Peralta was released on April 1, and LHP John Bale was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. Bale had thyroid surgery on March 3. The moves thinned the list of candidates for the Royals bullpen.

--1B/OF Ross Gload was traded to the Marlins for a player to be named. Kansas City will pay most of his $1.9 million salary this year. Gload, who was out of options, batted .280 this spring.

--LHP Gilbert De La Vara, selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Astros, was returned to the Royals on March 31. De La Vara, 24, allowed nine runs in 9 2/3 innings for Houston this spring.

--RHPs Gil Meche and Zack Greinke will start the first two games of the season at Chicago, manager Trey Hillman announced. This will be Meche's third consecutive Opening Day start for Kansas City.

--RHP Gil Meche tuned up for his April 6 season opener by throwing seven scoreless innings on March 27 against the Dodgers. He allowed four hits, three of them singles to Manny Ramirez, and walked one, while striking out six.

--2B Mark Teahen was batting .478 (19-for-39) with five home runs in 13 games. He missed a couple of weeks to play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

--CF Coco Crisp was leading the American League in spring training with 13 walks and a .515 on-base percentage.

BY THE NUMBERS: 16 -- Players left in camp with three years or less of service time in the majors.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "You'd like to have a set lineup, but I don't know that we will because of the second-base situation. I don't know how that's going to unfold. As we get that answer, that will help facilitate more of a regular order." -- Royals manager Trey Hillman.