But injuries struck early and in crucial places — third baseman Alex Gordon, center fielder Coco Crisp and shortstop Mike Aviles were key regulars who went down early. The alternatives were thin, there was a scramble to improvise and other players didn’t fulfill expectations.

Even so, don’t look for any earth-shaking revisions. General manager Dayton Moore’s contract has been extended through 2014, and he won’t be in a panic mode.

There are some big decisions ahead. Crisp, despite being hampered by sore shoulders, made a good impression as the leadoff hitter and center fielder. But he underwent surgery on both shoulders and the club holds an $8 million option on his 2010 contract. If the medical reports are good, the best guess is that the Royals will decline the option and instead try to sign Crisp at a reduced price with a contract laden with incentives that could get him back to that $8 million range.

The Royals also have to decide on whether to bring back first baseman-designated hitter Mike Jacobs, whose power numbers didn’t measure up to the notices, and sort out the three-man catching staff of Miguel Olivo, John Buck and Brayan Pena


Click here to read the full article – By Dick Kaegel of MLB.com

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