KANSAS CITY -- The Royals may have found an internal replacement for left-hander Mike Minor, who emerged as the team's closer last September and then signed a three-year, $28 million deal with the Rangers.
That replacement could be right-hander Nate Karns, who the Royals put on the disabled list Thursday because of elbow inflammation.
Both manager Ned Yost and general manager Dayton Moore confirmed that they believe once Karns comes off the disabled list, he will assume a bullpen role similar to the one Minor excelled in last season for the Royals: a multi-inning reliever to start with and then possibly a late-inning specialist.