Royals depart for spring training after tragic offseason (Yahoo Sports)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- - Dayton Moore was almost finished assembling a team he thought was capable of getting back to the playoffs, one that addressed many of the holes that plagued them a year ago. At first he thought it was a mistake, the news that young Kansas City pitcher Yordano Ventura had been killed in a car crash in the Dominican Republic. The hole in the rotation he dealt with this way: Moore signed veteran Jason Hammel to a two-year, $16 million contract a week before Royals pitchers and catchers were expected in suburban Phoenix.