The Kansas City Royals are moving 33-year old righty swinging Jose Guillen from RF to DH for the 2010 season. Guillen played in 81 games for the Royals last season and he was 68 for 281 (.242 avg, .681 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 9 homers and 40 RBIs. The Royals hope that DHing Guillen will keep him healthy and productive. The Royals would be happy if Guillen hits his career average of .271 with a .764 OPS and that’s not expecting too much out of him. Guillen might excel as a DH but only time will tell as it’s not an easy job.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE DH IN 2010: C

26-year old lefty swinging Alex Gordon will have to beat out 27-year old righty swinging Josh Fields if he wants to start at 3B for the Royals in 2010. Gordon played in only 49 games for the Royals last season and he was 38 for 164 (.232 avg, .702 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 6 homers, 22 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. In 2007+2008, Gordon played in 285 games for the Royals and he averaged 66 runs scored, 15.5 homers, 59.5 RBIs and 11.5 stolen bases while hitting only .253. Gordon has not lived up to his ability offensively and that’s why he is going to be challenged for his job this spring. Gordon made 10 errors in only 49 games at 3B for the Royals last season while showing below average range. Gordon needs to have a big spring to hold onto his starting job at 3B for the Royals in 2010.

Josh Fields is a serious threat to Alex Gordon’s future with the team. He played in 79 games for the White Sox last season and he was 53 for 239 (.222 avg, .648 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 7 homers and 30 RBIs. Fields does have the power needed to start at 3B in the majors but don’t expect a high batting average as he has whiffed in 34% of his major league at bats. Still, the Royals’ interest in him stemmed from the fact that he has scored a run every 7.4 at bats, cracked a homer every 21.4 at bats and he has knocked in a run every 6.6 at bats in his major league career. Fields played in 49 games at 3B for the White Sox last season and he made 8 errors while showing above average range. Field’s major league future is on the line as much as Gordon’s so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top for the starting job at the hot corner for the Royals in 2010.

32-year old righty swinging Willie Bloomquist could handle playing 3B in a pinch for the Royals. He played 3 error-free games at 3B for the Royals last season while showing outstanding range.

28-year old switch hitting Wilson Betemit will battle for a bench job for the Royals in 2010. He played in 20 games for the White Sox last season and he was 9 for 45 (.200 avg, .591 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs. Betemit is a better hitter than he showed last season as he has a career batting average of .258 with a .756 OPS. Betemit made an amazingly awful 4 errors in 6 games at 3B for the White Sox last season while showing pathetic range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2010: C-

28-year old righty swinging Yuniesky Betancourt will likely be the starting SS for the Royals again in 2010. He played in 134 games for the Royals & Mariners last season and he was 115 for 470 (.245 avg, .625 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 6 homers, 49 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The Royals hope that Betancourt can get back to his career norms of a .275 batting average with a .688 OPS with the bat in his hands. Betancourt played in 133 games at SS last season and he made 18 errors while showing slightly below average range.

32-year old righty swinging Willie Bloomquist can play almost everywhere on the field defensively but he’s a natural shortstop. He played in 125 games for the Royals last season and he was 115 for 434 (.265 avg, .663 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 4 homers, 29 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Bloomquist made 6 errors in 38 games at SS for the Royals last season while showing good range there. Bloomquist’s speed and versatility will continue to be a asset for the Royals in 2010.

29-year old righty swinging Mike Aviles will try to make a big time comeback in 2010. He played in 36 games for the Royals last season and he was 22 for 120 (.183 avg, .458 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Aviles was banged up all year before his season ended with elblow surgery. The Royals are hoping that Aviles is healthy because he can help the team if he is. Aviles played in 102 games for the Royals in 2008 and he was 136 for 419 (.325 avg, .834 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 10 homers, 51 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Aviles played in 34 games for the Royals last season for the Royals and he made 4 errors while showing good range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2010: C-

26-year old switch-hitting Alberto Callaspo comes into spring training as the Royals’ starting 2B in 2010 but he will have to hold off 26-year old lefty swinging Chris Getz. Callaspo played in 155 games for the Royals last season and he was 173 for 576 (.300 avg, .813 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 11 homers, 73 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Callaspo was one of the best hitters on the Royals last season but he will need to improve his defense to hold off Getz this spring. Callaspo made 17 errors in 146 games last season for the Royals while showing poor range.

26-year old lefty swinging Chris Getz was brought over in the Mark Teahan trade this winter. He played in 107 games for the White Sox last season and he was 98 for 375 (.261 avg, .671 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 2 homers, 31 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Getz made 7 errors in 106 games at 2B for the White Sox last season while showing good range. If the Royals move Callaspo in a trade this spring the job will be his.

32-year old righty swinging Willie Bloomquist played in 14 games at 2B last season for the Royals making 2 errors while showing good range. He plays all over the field for the Royals and that makes him valuable.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2010: B-