Kansas City Royals

Zack Greinke had high expectations in 2009 not only for himself, but also for the Royals.

Greinke more than met expectations, going 16-8 with a big-league-best 2.16 ERA while striking out 242 and walking 51 in 229 1/3 innings. Greinke was a landslide winner in the American League Cy Young balloting, earning 25 of the 28 first-place ballots.

The Royals, however, were underachievers, losing 97 games and finishing tied for last with the Indians in the American League Central.

"I thought we had a good chance to win our division (in spring training)," Greinke said. "Obviously, we didn't even come close."

He said the Twins, Tigers and White Sox "all did better than I thought, and we did worse."

Greinke, who signed a $38 million contract extension that runs through the 2012 season on Jan. 26, said he expects the Royals to be better in 2010.

"We need to step it up a little bit, not just one guy," Greinke said. "It has to be done or we won't have a good year next year."

Greinke became the third Royals pitcher to win the Cy Young Award. Bret Saberhagen won it twice, in 1985 and 1989, while David Cone was the 1994 recipient.

Greinke left the Royals in spring training 2006 with what was later diagnosed as a social anxiety and depression, but he has returned to become one of the most dominant starters in the game.

"In that way, it's a negative," Greinke said of the attention the Cy Young will bring him. "I was still hoping to get it. You work your whole life to do something and to get acknowledged. It is still something I work for and will try for next year. There are definitely more positives than negatives."

--rhp Y

asuhiko Yabuta, who spent the past two seasons with the Royals, will return to his former team in Japan, the Chibe Lotte Marines, according to the Kyodo News Service. Yabuta went a combined 3-4 with a 7.14 ERA in 43 appearances with Kansas City.

• RHP Doug Waechter and RHP Devon Lowery refused outright assignments to Class AAA Omaha, and they opted to become free agents. Waechter would have been eligible for arbitration this winter.

• RHP Blake Wood, C Manuel Pina, OF Jordan Parraz, OF Jarrod Dyson and INF Jeff Bianchi were added to the Royals' 40-man roster. 2B Tug Hulett, who hit .111 in 15 games with the Royals this year, was designated for assignment.

• RHP Jorge Campillo, who missed most of last season due to right shoulder tendinitis, signed a minor league deal with the Royals. He went 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA in five games with Atlanta this year.

• RHP Julio Pimentel, the Royals' representative in the 2008 Futures Game, was placed on release waivers by Kansas City.

• RHP Brad Thompson, who was 2-6 with a 4.84 ERA last season with the Cardinals, has signed a minor league contract with the Royals, who gave him an invitation to spring training. Thompson is 21-17 with a 4.36 ERA in 185 games, including 32 starts, with St. Louis. He will compete for a bullpen job in spring training.

• OF Jose Guillen and SS Mike Aviles, who ended the season on the 60-day disabled list, have been reinstated to the 40-man major league roster.

• 1B/DH Billy Butler, who hit .301 with 51 doubles, 21 home runs and 93 RBIs, was named the Royals' player of the year. Butler was the fifth player in big-league history to record 50 doubles and 20 home runs in a season before turning 24. RHP Zack Greinke, who was 16-8 with a 2.16 ERA in 33 starts, was selected the Royals' pitcher of the year.

• Doug Henry, who was the Royals' roving pitching coach last season, was named the pitching coach for Omaha, the Royals' AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League. Henry replaces Tom Burgmeier, who had been the Omaha pitching coach the past four seasons.

• RHP Aaron Crow retired the final 11 batters he faced after permitting a double with one out in the first inning of a four-inning outing for Surprise against Scottsdale in his final start in the Arizona Fall League. Crow, who is from Topeka, Kan., was the Royals' first-round pick in the June 2009 draft.

• 2B Alberto Callaspo was voted the 2009 Joe Burke Special Achievement Award winner after hitting .300 with 41 doubles, 11 home runs, 73 RBIs and 79 runs. Callaspo has a .302 average in 229 games with the Royals after being acquired in a Dec. 14, 2007 trade with the Diamondbacks. "He was a consistent and reliable performer who seemed to have a knack for big hits in key situations," Royals manager Trey Hillman said.

By The Numbers:

6—Starts by RHP Zack Greinke in which he received a no-decision while allowing one or no runs.

Quote To Note:

"I thought it would be closer. I was really surprised at that. Felix Hernandez had an amazing year,"

—RHP Zack Greinke, on winning the American League Cy Young by capturing 25 of the 28 first-place votes. Greinke had 134 points, while Hernandez had 80.

The Royals have many needs to fill this offseason—starting with center field, catching, the rotation and bullpen—but few available dollars. The Royals' farm system is barren at the top, so don't expect any rookie to make an immediate impact. Also, they have little of value to bring back anything in return because they do not want to trade RHPs Zack Greinke and Joakim Soria and 1B Billy Butler. If they dealt any of those three, it would just create another big hole.

Biggest Needs:

A speedy leadoff hitter who could play in center is the biggest need. Manager Trey Hillman used six different center fielders. Finding dependable arms in the bullpen is a key as Hillman used RHP Joakim Soria for several saves of more than three outs. The Royals also need help behind the plate.

Arrivals:

3B Josh Fields (trade with White Sox), 2B Chris Getz (trade with White Sox).

Departures:

INF/OF Mark Teahen (traded to White Sox), RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta (free agent, signed with Japanese team).

Free Agents:

RHP Jamey Wright, LHP Bruce Chen, C Miguel Olivo, CF Coco Crisp, LHP Lenny DiNardo, RHP Doug Waechter, RHP Devon Lowery.

The Royals have some interest in bringing back Wright, who made $800,000 in 2009 after coming to camp as a non-roster player. Chen finished the season with an oblique injury and was ineffective (1-6 with a 5.78 ERA). But he is left-handed, so the Royals might bring him back on a minor league contract. The team declined contract options on Olivo, Crisp and Yabuta. DiNardo, Waechter and Lowery refused assignments to the minors and became free agents.

Arbitration-eligible:

LHP John Bale, RHP Brian Bannister, C John Buck, RHP Roman Colon, RHP Kyle Davies, 3B Alex Gordon, DH/1B Mike Jacobs, RHP Robinson Tejeda.

Some on this list will likely be non-tendered, such as Buck, who made $2.9 million this year as a backup, and Jacobs, who made $3.575 million but had an unsatisfactory season and became a platoon player, seldom facing left-handers. Bale probably will not be back.

In Limbo:

The Royals would gladly get rid of RF Jose Guillen and his $12 million salary for 2010, but it is doubtful they would find any takers unless they want to eat most of that contract.

Medical Watch:

RHP Gil Meche (sore right shoulder) is expected to be 100 percent when spring training begins.

RHP Brian Bannister (sore right shoulder) is expected to be 100 percent when spring training begins.

RHP Kyle Davies (oblique strain) is expected to be 100 percent when spring training begins.

RF Jose Guillen (strained right hamstring) will rest and rehab in the offseason, but no surgery is scheduled.

CF Coco Crisp (right shoulder surgery in June 2009, left shoulder surgery in July 2009) is a question mark for the start of next season.

SS Mike Aviles (Tommy John elbow surgery in July 2009) might be restricted when spring training begins.

INF/OF Willie Bloomquist (arthroscopic surgery on both knees in October 2009) is expected to be at 100 percent by the start of spring training.

RHP Roman Colon (arthroscopic right knee surgery in October 2009) is expected to be fully healed by the time spring training opens.

2B Chris Getz (sports hernia surgery in October 2009) is expected to be ready for spring training following a six-week rehab.