KANSAS CITY (AP) - The Kansas City Royals created a logjam in the outfield and shortage of depth across the infield Saturday when they activated outfielder Jarrod Dyson from the disabled list and sent second baseman Chris Getz to Triple-A Omaha.
The Royals had until Tuesday to decide what to do with Dyson, a speedy outfielder who had been on the DL since sustaining a high right ankle sprain May 15.
They could have created a roster spot for him by sending struggling third baseman Mike Moustakas to Omaha, returning outfielder David Lough to the same club, or perhaps by making a more drastic move such as waiving veteran outfielder Jeff Francoeur, who has been slumping all season.
Ultimately, they decided to send Getz back to the minor leagues.
"It's a decision we looked at for two-and-a-half weeks," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "We had three or four different scenarios and we just let it play out. We wanted to keep the extra right-handed bat in the outfield with all the left-handed hitters we have, Getz had options, we feel like Moose is starting to swing the bat better, so we made the decision to send Getz out."
It wasn't necessarily a surprise considering Getz was hitting a career-low .214 with one homer and 12 RBI, and failed to get down a bunt in a 4-3 loss Tuesday to Cleveland.
But the move still leaves the Royals with five outfielders but only one extra infielder, not counting designated hitter Billy Butler, who can also play first base.
Elliot Johnson, the player to be named later in the trade that brought pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis over from Tampa Bay, figures to get the majority of games at second base, but 39-year-old Miguel Tejada got the first start Saturday against the White Sox.
"Miggy's playing today and we'll probably see more of Miggy there and mix me in," Johnson said. "That's not really up to me. Nothing has been said to me. I would assume it's business as normal. They had to make a move for Mr. Zoombiya to come back and that's the way it works."
Johnson is hitting .246 with two homers and nine RBI in 48 games, while Tejada entered the day hitting .290 with two homers and nine RBI in 25 games.
Most of Tejada's appearances have been at third base, though. He'd only played four games at second before this season, and Saturday's game was his fifth at the spot this season.
"We don't set anything in stone," Yost said. "We set our lineup. Whoever is playing that day is playing that day, and that's the way it is."
Dyson wasn't sure what the rotation will be like in the outfield, but Yost decided to give left fielder Alex Gordon the day off Saturday. That allowed Lough to slide into the lineup there, create a spot for Francoeur in right and leave Lorenzo Cain to start in center.
"I'm just going to be ready when my name is called," Dyson said. "I'm here to help the team win. That's my job, and I feel like I'm doing my job if I'm helping my team."