First off I would like to apologize for my absense from the blog, I was having some login trouble and was not able to post.

Moving on there are a few things that have happened since the last time that I posted. But let’s begin with some very exciting news! Ross Gload has been traded to the Florida Marlins for a player to be named later. To be honest that player could be named half a box of cracker jacks and I would be thrilled with the deal. Even though the Royals are believed to be paying a reported 1.5 million of Gload’s 2009 salary of 1.9 million I think this is a good deal for the Royals, whom are now able to give a roster spot to a more deserving player (Ryan Shealy, Brayan Pena, or Mitch Maier)

Also, Luke Hudson has announced his retirement from the game. Luke was a great find by Dayton Moore for part of the 2007 season, but due to shoulder issues he has been unable to return to form. Hudson is best remembered for his less than stellar performance against the Cleveland Indians, when he gave up 11 runs in the first inning.

Peralta has been released. Bale been placed on the DL. The bullpen is starting to take shape with Soria, Farnsworth, Cruz, and Mahay at the back end. Plus Tejeda and Jamey Wright who have appeared to have locked up spots. This leaves one other spot which I believe will go to Doug Waechter.

Opening Day is less than 72 hours away. More posts to come!

This afternoon the Royals came to agreement with former Diamondback reliever Juan Cruz. The deal is worth a reported $2.25 mill this season, $3.25 mill for 2010, and a club option $4 mill for 2011, with a $500K buyout.

Last season Cruz led all National League relievers with a 12.37 strikeout rate per 9 innings. He also had a 2.61 ERA last season for the D Backs and owns career strikeout to walk rate of 535:266. Cruz was a type A free agent so the Diamondbacks will get the Royals second round pick as compensation (The top half of the first round are protected and the Royals pick 12th.)

To make room for Cruz on the 40 man roster the Royals designated Esteban German for assignment.

Cruz will add even more depth to a Royals bullpen that is really starting to take shape. With the likes of Cruz Farnsworth and Mahay at the back getting the ball to Soria, on paper it is starting to look like the bullpen maybe a strength of the 09 Royals.

The Kansas City Royals needed some pitching help and they hope to have solved that in the last week has they have brought back Horacio Ramirez and also signed free agent Kyle Farnsworth.

Ramirez will start out in the starting rotation while Farnsworth will be slated for the bullpen. Ramirez made 15 relief appearances for the Royals, with a 2.59 ERA and a 1-1 record. Then, on Aug. 9, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Minor League outfielder Paulo Orlando

Farnsworth will be signing a two-year deal worth $9.25 million ESPN analyst Steve Phillips is saying. The only thing that is left for Fransworth to do is take a physical. He will be a dominate right hander out of the bullpen, something the team really keyed in on to get this off season.

Kansas City Royals