Royals relievers ready to audition for setup roles

KANSAS CITY -- With the Trade Deadline less than 24 hours away and only one expiring contract left to possibly be moved -- outfielder Billy Hamilton's -- the Royals will devote much of the season’s final two months to sorting through their bullpen and formulating a plan for 2020.

With veterans Jake Diekman and Wily Peralta gone, the Royals now turn to younger, inexperienced pitchers such as Kyle Zimmer, Richard Lovelady, Josh Staumont, Jorge Lopez, Tim Hill, Kevin McCarthy and Scott Barlow for answers. Veteran right-hander Ian Kennedy will remain in the closer’s role. But manager Ned Yost will be auditioning pitchers for setup roles.

“One of the priorities is just giving the guys experience up here,” Yost said. “Going forward, their roles will sort themselves out. We’ll see who can improve, who can make adjustments, who can get better in small, incremental steps.

“You’re not going to see guys jump and get hugely better all of a sudden. I saw Greg Holland do it after his first year. He went from a guy throwing the ball everywhere to a guy who could throw strikes. He had more feel and touch that second year.”

For now, it would appear Barlow will mostly likely slide into the high-leverage eighth-inning role, replacing Diekman.

“[Barlow] is as close to anyone to be that guy,” Yost said.

But Yost also wants to see what he has with Staumont, Lovelady, Zimmer and Lopez.

“We just will be continuing their evaluation,” Yost said. “They all have good stuff, but you have to command it.”

Mondesi improving
Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi, on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder injury, took about 40 swings off a tee from both sides of the plate on Tuesday.

Mondesi has also been doing some light jogging, taking infield grounders and making some soft throws.

“He keeps progressing,” Yost said. “No timetable, but he just keeps moving forward.”