Royals have 'White Sox West' look with 4 ex-South Siders on the roster

Posted February 28, 2010 10:00 pm

Scot Gregor

SURPRISE, Ariz. - It was like they never left the White Sox.

In one corner of the Kansas City Royals' training camp clubhouse, Chris Getz and Josh Fields are locker mates, and Brian Anderson is a stall down.

Scott Podsednik is one locker away from Anderson, so there is definitely a "White Sox West" feel to the Royals this season.

"Nowadays you see guys moving from team to team quite a bit," Podsednik said Sunday. "But it's still pretty odd to see four guys from one club sign with another, or get traded, and end up together. There are definitely some familiar faces."

Getz and Fields were traded to the Royals for Mark Teahen on Nov. 6. Anderson signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with KC on Dec. 21 and Podsednik agreed to a one-year, $1.75 million contract (with an option for 2011) on Jan. 10.

"It's made the transition pretty easy," Getz said of the exodus. "This is an organization filled with good people, the staff and players. But to have those guys come with me, it does make it much more relaxed and easier to get comfortable."

At this time a year ago, Podsednik was in the Colorado Rockies' camp and he didn't survive the final roster cut.

The 33-year-old outfielder was re-signed by the Sox on April 14 and he proceeded to have a standout season, batting .304 and stealing 30 bases.

"It was very strange, very humbling," Podsednik said. "It was very eerie sitting on my couch watching major-league baseball on Opening Day when I felt like I could still go out and make an impact. I still felt that given the opportunity, I could play and Kenny (general manager Williams) and the Sox gave me the opportunity and things just kind of worked out from there."

Podsednik wanted to return to the White Sox with a two-year deal, which he didn't get.

Any thoughts on your two tours of duty on the South Side?

"No," Podsednik said.

Podsednik heads into this week's Cactus League play as the Royals' starting left fielder.

Getz is Kansas City's starting second baseman.

"At first, I wasn't necessarily disappointed," Getz said of the trade. "I was more shocked to be honest. I didn't anticipate it. But coming over here, it looks like a great opportunity for me and that can only make you excited as a player."

Fields has been working out at third base, left field and first base. He's also expected to spend time at designated hitter.

"Having the other guys here has made it a lot easier," Fields said. "But the guys that were here before have made it easy, too. They've kind of accepted us with open arms and helped us fit in. I think they know they need us to help produce and the guys have been great. They've made us feel a part of the team here right away."

Considering the Royals are coming off a 65-win season and have finished last in the AL Central five times in six years, they're happy to welcome any help they can get.

"Of course they can help us," Kansas City starter Kyle Davies said. "All of them are pretty unique in the fact they can do a whole lot of different things. Josh can play third base, some outfield and hit for power. Getz can run, Podsednik can run and play the outfield. There is a lot of versatility in all of them."

There's also White Sox bloodlines.

"I don't have any regrets," Fields said of his four frustrating seasons with the Sox. "When I was there I played and I gave them all I had. Sometimes I ended up playing more than I should have because of injuries, but when you're young you want to keep playing. Sometimes I realized it's not necessarily the best thing for your career to play when you're hurt.

"You know what? In the long run (the trade) is going to end up being the best thing for the White Sox and the best thing for myself. I'm not looking back."

Anderson appeared to have a good shot at making the 25-man roster, but his status became shaky after the Royals signed Rick Ankiel in late January.

<h1>More Coverage</h1>

<h2>Stories</h2>

<li><a href="/story/?id=362562">Sox GM Williams eyes Padres' Gonzalez<span class="date">[2/28/10]</span></a></li>

</ul>

</div>