ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. | Time ran out Wednesday morning on the Royals willingness to wait for right-hander Kyle Davies to develop into a reliable starting pitcher. The Royals requested unconditional release waivers on Davies, 27, in order to clear space on their 40-man roster for the arrival of catcher Salvador Perez from Class AAA Omaha. With our current roster issues, general manager Dayton Moore said, we had to do something. He probably not going to pitch for the rest of the year, and we didnt want to take anybody else off the roster at this point. The move comes with Davies on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season because of arm problems. He was 1-9 with a 6.75 ERA while active in 13 starts. Obviously, Im bummed out about it, he said. But I can understand exactly what happened. They needed a roster space, and the chances were, if I came back, it would be for a very limited part of the season. Players can be released while on the disabled list. If claimed by another club, they remain on the disabled list for their new club. But any club would also assume the balance of Davies $3.2 million salary or roughly $900,000. That makes it likely Davies will clear waivers. Thereafter, he becomes a free agent who can be signed by any club for a pro-rated share of the major-league minimum salary of $414,000 or roughly $115,000 with the Royals paying the balance. The thing about Kyle Davies, Moore said, is he has very good pitches. Its all in there, and hes only 27 years old. Hes got better days ahead of him. As long as he stays healthy, hes got better days ahead of him. The Royals needed to make a move on their 40-man roster in order to add Perez prior to Wednesdays game against Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field. Their active roster was down to one catcher, rookie Manny Piña, after Brayan Peña departed on paternity leave. Veteran Matt Treanor remains unavailable because he is still recovering from a concussion suffered July 30 in Cleveland. It stinks on my part, Davies said. Ive been part of this organization for parts of the last five years, and I want nothing more than to help this team win, but I cant help it on the DL. And they need a roster spot. Davies often flashed potential in his four-plus seasons after arriving July 31, 2007 in a trade from Atlanta, but he never displayed desired consistency. He went 29-44 with a 5.34 ERA in 99 starts for the Royals over portions of five seasons. Even if he made it back, manager Ned Yost said, my mind-set was he would probably have to go to the pen. I think we gave Kyle every opportunity to showcase his skills, and it just didnt work out for him.Whats next? The Royals are hoping Peña can return from paternity leave in time to accompany the traveling party Thursday on its trip to Chicago following an afternoon series finale against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Paternity leave can run 24-72 hours, but Peña previously indicated he expected to return to active duty in time for Fridays series opener against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Peñas return will force another roster move. Barring injuries, the current plan is to option Piña to Omaha. Piña is three for 14 in four games since his July 31 recall from Northwest Arkansas one day after Treanor suffered a concussion in Cleveland.Starling on hold Negotiations with first-round pick Bubba Starling show no movement, Moore said, as the two sides approach the deadline of 11 p.m. Central time Monday. The Royals selected Starling, a multi-sport standout from Gardner-Edgerton, with the fifth overall pick in the new-player draft. Starling is currently taking part in limited football workouts at Nebraska while negotiations continue. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, the Royals will get a compensation pick next year the pick after the regular No. 5 overall pick. Starling would be ineligible to re-enter the draft until 2014.Minor details Left-hander Mike Montgomery, often viewed as the organizations top pitching prospect, and other Omaha players had a chance to impress Moore, who attended Storm Chasers 7-6 victory over Fresno on Wednesday afternoon in Omaha. Montgomery got the victory but allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings while striking out six and walking three. He is 5-7 overall with a 5.31 ERA in 23 starts. Right fielder Lorenzo Cain went one for three with a homer and raised his average to .312. Designated hitter Clint Robinson is batting .313 after going three for four with two doubles and two RBIs. Reliever Kelvin Herrera protected a one-run lead in the ninth and has yet to allow a run in 6 1/3 innings in six appearances since his promotion from Northwest Arkansas. He is 6-1 overall with 10 saves and a 1.26 ERA in 37 appearances. Looking back It was 40 years ago Thursday Aug. 11, 1971 that the late Paul Splittorff pitched the first of his three career one-hitters in a 1-0 victory at Washington. This one deserves an asterisk because the game was shortened by rain to five-plus innings. Splittorff also had one-hitters on Aug. 3, 1975 against Oakland, and Sept. 2, 1977 against Milwaukee.

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ROYALS NOTEBOOK

Kyle Davies finally ran out of opportunities with Royals

By BOB DUTTON

The Kansas City Star

More News

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. | Time ran out Wednesday morning on the Royals’ willingness to wait for right-hander Kyle Davies to develop into a reliable starting pitcher.

The Royals requested unconditional release waivers on Davies, 27, in order to clear space on their 40-man roster for the arrival of catcher Salvador Perez from Class AAA Omaha.

“With our current roster issues,” general manager Dayton Moore said, “we had to do something. He probably not going to pitch for the rest of the year, and we didn’t want to take anybody else off the roster at this point.”

The move comes with Davies on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season because of arm problems. He was 1-9 with a 6.75 ERA while active in 13 starts.

“Obviously, I’m bummed out about it,” he said. “But I can understand exactly what happened. They needed a roster space, and the chances were, if I came back, it would be for a very limited part of the season.”

Players can be released while on the disabled list. If claimed by another club, they remain on the disabled list for their new club. But any club would also assume the balance of Davies’ $3.2 million salary – or roughly $900,000.

That makes it likely Davies will clear waivers. Thereafter, he becomes a free agent who can be signed by any club for a pro-rated share of the major-league minimum salary of $414,000 — or roughly $115,000 — with the Royals’ paying the balance.

“The thing about Kyle Davies,” Moore said, “is he has very good pitches. It’s all in there, and he’s only 27 years old. He’s got better days ahead of him. As long as he stays healthy, he’s got better days ahead of him.

The Royals needed to make a move on their 40-man roster in order to add Perez prior to Wednesday’s game against Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field. Their active roster was down to one catcher, rookie Manny Piña, after Brayan Peña departed on paternity leave.

Veteran Matt Treanor remains unavailable because he is still recovering from a concussion suffered July 30 in Cleveland.

“It stinks on my part,” Davies said. “I’ve been part of this organization for parts of the last five years, and I want nothing more than to help this team win, but I can’t help it on the DL. And they need a roster spot.”

Davies often flashed potential in his four-plus seasons after arriving July 31, 2007 in a trade from Atlanta, but he never displayed desired consistency. He went 29-44 with a 5.34 ERA in 99 starts for the Royals over portions of five seasons.

“Even if he made it back,” manager Ned Yost said, “my mind-set was he would probably have to go to the pen. I think we gave Kyle every opportunity to showcase his skills, and it just didn’t work out for him.”

What’s next?

The Royals are hoping Peña can return from paternity leave in time to accompany the traveling party Thursday on its trip to Chicago following an afternoon series finale against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Paternity leave can run 24-72 hours, but Peña previously indicated he expected to return to active duty in time for Friday’s series opener against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

Peña’s return will force another roster move. Barring injuries, the current plan is to option Piña to Omaha. Piña is three for 14 in four games since his July 31 recall from Northwest Arkansas – one day after Treanor suffered a concussion in Cleveland.

Starling on hold

Negotiations with first-round pick Bubba Starling show no movement, Moore said, as the two sides approach the deadline of 11 p.m. Central time Monday.

The Royals selected Starling, a multi-sport standout from Gardner-Edgerton, with the fifth overall pick in the new-player draft. Starling is currently taking part in limited football workouts at Nebraska while negotiations continue.

If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, the Royals will get a compensation pick next year — the pick after the regular No. 5 overall pick. Starling would be ineligible to re-enter the draft until 2014.

Minor details

Left-hander Mike Montgomery, often viewed as the organization’s top pitching prospect, and other Omaha players had a chance to impress Moore, who attended Storm Chasers’ 7-6 victory over Fresno on Wednesday afternoon in Omaha.

Montgomery got the victory but allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings while striking out six and walking three. He is 5-7 overall with a 5.31 ERA in 23 starts.

Right fielder Lorenzo Cain went one for three with a homer and raised his average to .312. Designated hitter Clint Robinson is batting .313 after going three for four with two doubles and two RBIs.

Reliever Kelvin Herrera protected a one-run lead in the ninth and has yet to allow a run in 6 1/3 innings in six appearances since his promotion from Northwest Arkansas. He is 6-1 overall with 10 saves and a 1.26 ERA in 37 appearances.

Looking back

It was 40 years ago Thursday — Aug. 11, 1971 — that the late Paul Splittorff pitched the first of his three career one-hitters in a 1-0 victory at Washington. This one deserves an asterisk because the game was shortened by rain to five-plus innings.

Splittorff also had one-hitters on Aug. 3, 1975 against Oakland, and Sept. 2, 1977 against Milwaukee.