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Projected Lineup (2003 stats) Pos. Player Avg. HR RBI SB SS Angel Berroa .287 17 73 21 LF Aaron Guiel .277 15 52 3 CF Carlos Beltran .307 26 100 41 1B Mike Sweeney .293 16 83 3 RF Juan Gonzalez .294 24 70 1 3B Joe Randa .291 16 72 1 DH Ken Harvey .266 13 64 2 C Benito Santiago .279 11 56 0 2B Desi Relaford .254 8 59 20 Projected Rotation (2003 stats) H Player W-L ERA WHIP LH Brian Anderson 14-11 3.78 1.29 LH Darrell May 10-8 3.77 1.19 LH Jeremy Affeldt 7-6 3.93 1.30 LH Jimmy Gobble 4-5 4.61 1.35 RH Kevin Appier 8-9 5.40 1.46 FANTASY BASEBALL Sign up Today! • NEW! Baseball Commissioner Full service league management tool. $99.95 per league • NEW! Fantasy Baseball Conquer your league and take home the pennant. $19.95 per team • NEW! Salary Cap Challenge Select your dream team with a $75 million budget. $9.95 per team

Tony Pena's overachieving bunch stayed in the AL Central race a lot longer than anyone expected in 2003. Thanks to some some big-name new additions the Royals could rule the division in 2004.

Most fantasy players know all about Carlos Beltran. With the Royals primed to make another run at the division title, those still left in the dark will soon see the light. One of the few true power-speed threats left in baseball, Beltran has averaged 28 home runs, 102 RBIs and 36 steals.

When fit enough to be in the lineup the last two seasons former AL MVP Juan Gonzalez has been an above-average power hitter. The trouble is he hasn't played 150 games in a season since 1998 and has totaled only 152 games combined during the last two years. He's still capable of hitting 30 home runs and driving in 120 runs, but you'd be foolish to count on Juan Gone going the distance.

Designated hitter. Last year's DH, right-handed hitter Ken Harvey, was hot and cold but the Royals didn't have too many alternatives. Enter veteran left-handed batter Matt Stairs, whose slugging percentage in 2003 (.561) was higher than Sammy Sosa's (.553). Look for Stairs to earn at least the southpaw share of a platoon with Harvey.

Underrated second baseman Desi Relaford typified the Royals' scrappy attitude last season, when he stole 20 bases, a career high. This marks the first time that Relaford has an everyday job in back-to-back seasons -- and there's no reason to think he's not capable of swiping 20 more.

Former Brewers closer Curtis Leskanic, who earned two saves last season after coming to K.C., could step in for the short term. But should MacDougal experience a longterm problem, the Royals likely would turn the ball over to Jeremy Affeldt, who has been plagued by blister problems as a starter.

Entering last year Aaron Guiel was a minor league journeyman who had played 10 years for the Angels, Padres, A's and Royals organizations (not to mention the Mexican League). But in 99 big-league games in 2003 he was solid at the plate. Beware, however, that top prospect David DeJesus is on the horizon, and Guiel's days as a Royals starter could be numbered.

Angel Berroa, Joe Randa, Benito Santiago

Dee Brown, Tony Graffanino, Jason Grimsley