Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - For the first time in a long time there is some optimism surrounding the Kansas City Royals.

Under new manager Trey Hillman last season, the Royals won 75 games - their most since 2000 - and finished somewhere other than last place in the AL Central for the first time since 2003.

The Royals entered last September with 19 losses in their previous 23 games. General manager Dayton Moore then held a private clubhouse meeting during which he backed Hillman in unshakable terms. He then told the public of his intention to make sweeping roster changes before the 2009 season.

Moore's tough talk worked, as the club reeled off their most wins in a month since 1994, going 18-8 in September.

Kansas City was then active this offseason, upping its payroll more than 20- percent to a franchise record $70 million.

The team acquired slugger Mike Jacobs to help Jose Guillen in the middle of a lineup, while outfielder Coco Crisp was brought in to jumpstart an offense which scored just 691 runs - the fewest of any AL Central club.

Moore also added to an already strong bullpen, signing hard-throwing right- hander Kyle Farnsworth.

They might not be in the mix for a title this season, but Moore has the Royals going in the right direction.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2009 edition of the Kansas City Royals, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2008 FINISH (75-87) - Fourth Place (AL Central)

KEY OFFSEASON ADDITIONS: Mike Jacobs (1B); Kyle Farnsworth (RHP); Coco Crisp (OF)

KEY OFFSEASON SUBTRACTIONS: Leo Nunez (RHP); Ramon Ramirez (RHP); Mark Grudzielanek (IF); Joey Gathright (OF)

PROJECTED LINEUP: Coco Crisp (CF); Mike Aviles (SS); David DeJesus (LF); Jose Guillen (RF) Mike Jacobs (1B); Mark Teahan (DH); Alex Gordon (3B); Miguel Olivo (C); Alberto Callaspo (2B)

PROJECTED ROTATION: Gil Meche (RHP); Zach Greinke (RHP); Brian Bannister (RHP); Kyle Davies (RHP)

PROJECTED CLOSER: Joakim Soria (RHP)

MANAGER: Trey Hillman

INFIELD

Hoping to add some pop to the middle of their lineup, the Royals acquired the first baseman Jacobs from the Florida Marlins. Jacobs, who could also see some time at designated hitter, belted 32 home runs with 93 RBI last year for the Fish.

At the other corner will be Alex Gordon, who was better last season than in his rookie campaign in 2007, but still a far cry from the hitter KC envisioned when he entered the league. Gordon appeared in 134 games a year ago and hit .260 with 16 home runs and 59 RBI.

Shortstop Mike Aviles was a pleasant surprise for Hillman's club, hitting .325 with 10 home runs and 51 RBI. His average was the highest in franchise history for a rookie with at least 400 at-bats.

Alberto Callaspo went into camp with the hope of securing the starting second base job, but he is probably better suited coming off the bench. Because of that the Royals have been toying with the idea of having the versatile Mark Teahan play second base.

Teahan, who is also a prime candidate to be dealt for some infield depth, hit .255 a year ago with 15 homers and 59 RBI

Behind the plate will be veteran Miguel Olivo, who vowed late last season that he would not return to the club unless he was guaranteed a starting spot. Well, he wasn't guaranteed a spot, but he is back anyway as the team's starter. Olivo appeared in 84 games last season and hit .255 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI.

OUTFIELD

Leadoff man Crisp was acquired early this offseason from the Boston Red Sox and will take over in center field for David DeJesus, who will shift over to left, where the club believes he is a natural fit.

Crisp, a switch-hitter, will bring some speed to the top of the order, but hasn't hit .300 since 2005, while playing in the AL Central for the Cleveland Indians. The 29-year-old Crisp hit .283 last season with seven home runs, 41 RBI and 55 runs scored with 20 stolen bases.

DeJesus had a career season a year ago, batting .307 with 12 home runs, 73 RBI and 70 runs scored. He will not only shift positions in the field, but he will drop in the batting order and will hit third in front of cleanup hitter Guillen.

Guillen, who will patrol right field for the Royals, had an up-and-down first season in KC, hitting .264 with 20 home runs and 97 RBI. However, he was virtually unprotected in the lineup a year ago. Hopefully the addition of Jacobs, combined with DeJesus hitting in front of him will change that.

STARTING ROTATION

The rotation will be headed by right-handers Gil Meche and Zack Greinke.

In his second season with the Royals, Meche went 14-11 with a 3.98 earned run average. Hillman has already said he will be the team's starter on Opening Day.

The 25-year-old Greinke, though, enjoyed a breakout year in 2008, achieving career-highs in wins (13), earned run average (3.47), strikeouts (183), quality starts (23) and innings pitched (202 1/3).

He finished the season 13-10 and his strikeout total equaled Meche, which tied the pair for fifth in the American League. His ERA was the lowest of all Kansas City arms with at least 162 innings pitched since Kevin Appier posted a 3.40 ERA in 1997.

After those two figures to be righty Brian Bannister, who the team hopes can be better than he was a year ago. After finishing third in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting in 2007, Bannister posted a 9-16 mark to go along with a 5.76 ERA.

Kyle Davies was the club's best pitcher down the stretch, going 4-1 with a 2.27 ERA in September. He was 9-7 overall, while pitching to a 4.06 ERA. Davies' big finish probably earned him a spot in the rotation to start the year.

Veteran Sidney Ponson was signed during spring training and he will battle the young Luke Hochevar and lefty Horacio Ramirez for the final spot in the rotation.

BULLPEN

There are not many closers in baseball better than Joakim Soria. "The Mexicutioner" was sensational last season, saving 42 of his 45 opportunities, while pitching to a 1.60 ERA.

Kansas City, though, completely re-tooled the bridge to get to him, as they dealt away Leo Nunez and Ramon Ramirez. Instead, Moore brought in hard- throwing, but inconsistent, righty Farnsworth.

Farnsworth will team with a pair of lefties in Ron Mahay and John Bale in helping get the ball to Soria in the ninth. Mahay was in the midst of the best season of his 12-year career a year ago before having to shut it down with a foot injury in August.

Bale, meanwhile, was a big part of the September run, tossing 10 scoreless innings in the final month.

BENCH/DH

When Teahan isn't in the DH role, then Billy Butler will be. Butler has 20- home run potential, but has yet to realize it. He stroked 11 homers last season and hit .275.

Willie Bloomquist will also contribute off the bench.

John Buck, who hit .224 with 23 doubles, nine home runs, 48 RBI and 48 runs scored in 109 games for Kansas City last season, will serve as Olivo's backup.

OUTLOOK

People looking for the next Tampa Bay Rays don't have to look much further than Kansas City. Of all the teams poised for a breakout season, the Royals may stand the best chance in a relatively weak AL Central. Hillman is a terrific manager and has a good, young rotation with an even better bullpen at his disposal. Jacobs and Guillen should be able to produce runs with Crisp, Aviles and DeJesus at the top of the order. Maybe this is the year Gordon finally realizes that potential that everyone has been waiting for. I am not picking them to win the division, but I wouldn't be shocked if they are playing meaningful baseball in September either.