2005 Royals

It's not yet the All Star Break, but with the Royals' poor start it's prudent to look ahead to next year.

Some unknowns exist. CF Carlos Beltran will be gone, probably in a trade this year. 3B Joe Randa may also be traded. The Royals will have some money to play with - potentially as much at $13 million.

Here's a possible lineup:

1B - Harvey/Sweeney
2B - Gotay/Murphy (minors leaguers, or Graffanino if he's signed through 2005)
SS - Berroa
3B - ???
LF - Dee Brown/???
CF - David DeJesus
RF - Aaron Guiel
C - Santiago

The rotation will probably look much different next season. Don't look for Anderson or May to return. Greinke and Gobble are locks. Runelvys Hernandez should return from his Tommy John surgery.

With $13 million, the Royals should target a major league pitcher. Soren Petro is suggesting Barry Zito. I think that would be great. Imagine a rotation of Zito, Greinke, Hernandez and Gobble...