Kansas City Royals Mid-Season Update

Before the 2007 season, the Kansas City Royals appeared to be opening up their wallet. The team outbid the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays for free agent Gil Meche, signing him to 5-year, $55 million deal. Reliever Octavio Dotel also signed a one-year, $5 million deal. Kansas City has signed several new players, thus adding bulk to their hitting and bullpen. Under Dayton Moore, general manager, Kansas City was one of the most aggressive teams in the offseason. The team entered the new season looking to rebound from 4 out of 5 seasons ending with 100 losses.

During the 2007 MLB Draft, Kansas City selected shortstop Mike Moustakas at no. 2 overall.

The Royals’ 2007 season began with the team attempting to win the Central Division of the AL. In fact it is a heavy task not achieved since the division was formed thirteen years ago.

Trying to improve their 62-100 record of 2006, the Royals will try to avoid a 4th straight last place finish and 100-loss season. Buddy Bell returned for his 2nd full season as the team’s manager, and Dayton Moore starts his first season as the Royals’ general manager.

On June 13, 2007, the Royals optioned outfielder Shane Costa to Triple-A Omaha; and recalled infielder Fernando Cortez from Omaha. A week earlier right-handed pitcher Joakim Soria was activated from the fifteen-day disabled list.