A history of Royals spring training trades

KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 13: Jermaine Dye of the Kansas City Royals looks on against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium on April 13, 1997 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals defeated the Twins 6-1. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images Royals fans may be underwhelmed with what the club has done to address its outfield offensive needs, but even with Opening Day just over a week away, it’s not too late for the Royals to make a move.

Teams around baseball are still sorting through roster crunches, injuries, and late-camp competitions, which can create opportunities for trades right up until the end of spring training. It would not be unprecedented for the Royals to make a trade in camp. Throughout their history the Royals have pulled off a number of spring training deals, some minor and some quite significant, that reshaped the roster just days or weeks before the season began.

Here are some notable trades the Royals made while players were tuning up for the season in camp. April 1, 1969 – Acquired Lou Piniella Piniella was originally signed by the Cleveland Indians, but bounced around to the Senators and Orioles organizations before the Indians reacquired him. But they left him unprotected for the expansion draft in 1968, and the new Seattle franchise selected him.

Piniella had a fiery attitude that rubbed manager Joe Schultz the wrong way, so near the end of spring training, the Pilots traded him to the other expansion team, the Royals for outfielder Steve Whitaker and pitcher John Gelnar. Piniella would be the starting left fielder and collect the first hit in Royals history, on his way to hitting . 282 and winning Rookie of the Year.