The Royals have released righty reliever Hideo Nomo. Nomo was awful in 3 games (0 starts) for the Royals this season as he was 0-0 with a 18.69 ERA and a 3.23 WHIP. Nomo’s major league career is likely over. If it is, Nomo pitched in 323 games (318 starts) in his major league career and he was 123-109 with a 4.24 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.

The Royals have placed lefty starter John Bale on the 15-day disabled list with arm fatigue. Bale has started 3 games this season for the Royals and he is 0-3 with a 7.63 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP. The Royals have recalled righty reliever Joel Peralta from AAA ball. In 4 games in AAA this season Peralta is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. It was a good move to recall Peralta who should have never been sent to the minors in the first place.

The Royals have traded Justin Huber to the Padres for a player to be named later. Huber played in 8 games for the Royals last season and he was 1 for 10 (.100 avg, .200 OPS) with 2 runs scored. Huber played in 38 games in his career with the Royals and he was 20 for 98 (.204 avg, .500 OPS) with 9 runs scored and 7 RBIs. The Royals didn’t have any room for Huber on their roster so at least they got something for him.

24-year old righty Joakim Soria will be the closer for the Royals this season and he’s quite an impressive pitcher. He pitched in 62 games (0 starts) for the Royals last season and he was 2-3 with 17 saves, a 2.48 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. Soria only allowed 46 hits while whiffing 75 batters in only 69 innings last season. He is a star in the making.

34-year old righty Yasuhiko Yabuta was brought from the Far East in the off-season to provide help at the back end of the Royals’ bullpen. Yabuta pitched in 58 games last season in Japan and he was 4-6 with 4 saves, a 2.73 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Yabuta has pitched in 343 games (86 starts) in his Japanese baseball career and he is 44-59 with 9 saves, a 4.03 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Look for Yabuta to do a good job for the Royals and help strengthen the bullpen in 2008.

37-year old lefty Ron Mahay will be the top lefty in the bullpen this season for the Royals. He pitched in 58 games (0 starts) for the Rangers & Braves last season and he was 3-0 with 1 save, a 2.55 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He will have a solid year in 2008 for the Royals.

24-year old righty Leo Nunez will be throwing bullets out of the bullpen this season for the Royals. Nunez pitched in 13 games (6 starts) for the Royals last season and he was 2-4 with a 3.92 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He could be a dominant relief pitcher with his stuff.

26-year old lefty Jimmy Gobble will be the #2 lefty in the Royals bullpen this season. He pitched in 74 games (0 starts) for the Royals last year and he was 4-1 with a 3.02 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. He whiffed 50 batters in 54.2 innings as his stuff looked much better in relief than it did when he was a starting pitcher.

26-year old righty Ramon Ramirez also has a nice upside. He pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last season and he was 2-2 with a 8.31 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP.

32-year old righty Joel Peralta was shockingly sent to AAA after spring training. He should be really upset as he has been one of the best relievers on the Royals the last couple of season. Peralta pitched in 62 games (0 starts) for the Royals last season and he was 1-3 with 1 save, a 3.80 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. If the Royals don’t call him up soon they will no doubt be able to get something for him in a trade.

27-year old righty Chin-hui Tsao will also likely help the Royals at some point in 2008. He pitched in 21 games (0 starts) for the Dodgers last season and he was 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP.

27-year old lefty Neal Musser will get a chance at some point in the season for the Royals. He pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the Royals last season and he was 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP. Musser was completely dominant in AAA last season. He pitched in 32 games (0 starts) in AAA ball last season and he was 4-1 with 8 saves, a 0.49 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON: B

The Royals have acquired 26-year old righty Ramon Ramirez from the Rockies for a player to be named later. He pitched in 22 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last season and he was 2-2 with a 8.31 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Ramirez has now pitched in 83 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 6-5 with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. This was a good move by the Royals as Ramirez has a very strong arm.