[ChiefLee]

Royals acquire Betancourt from Mariners for two minor-league pitchers - Kansas City Star

I like this trade. He's a true SS unlike Aviles or Bloomquist. A couple years left on his contract. Numbers are down this year, but he's got a little pop in his bat.

My only fear is that Trey has too much versatility again with Betancourt and Gordon coming back. I'm hoping for a set lineup of:

1B - Butler
2B - Callaspo
SS - Betancourt
3B - Gordon
LF - Teahan (unless you can trade him)
CF - DeJesus
RF - Guillen (only because there's nothing else to do with him)
C - Olivo
DH - Jacobs

Let Buck catch 1 or 2 per week. Rotate Bloomquist through SS, 3B, RF and LF to give days off. That's four starts per week. Let Freel get a couple a start each week in CF and 2B.

I don't want to see Teahan and DeJesus playing multiple positions. Put them somewhere and leave them. And leave Olivo catching 5 days a week.

[Full Cougar]

That sounds like a pretty good plan for the Royals you have there. I really think Betancourt will help. I'm just not sure how much.

Here are his 2009 stats-
BA- .250
HR- 2
RBI- 22
R- 15

Those numbers aren't incredible, but they arent terrible. I think he will turn this season around though. He is with the Royals now so maybe it will feel like a new start for him and he can start playing good baseball.

[ChiefLee]

The "experts" certainly have been dogging this trade.

Royals had no true SS on the roster, and nothing even close in the minors. Looking at next year free agent crops, we can't get any of the good ones with our payroll. This really was the best possible move by Dayton.

He played good defense the last couple of nights. We'll see...

[Full Cougar]

How is he doing hitting?