The Royals added to their outfield depth on Tuesday by signing free-agent Jon Jay to a one-year contract.
Jay, 32, batted .296 with 18 doubles, two home runs and 34 RBIs in 141 games with the Cubs in 2017.
The Royals headed into spring-training camp with three candidates to man center field: Alex Gordon played 15 games in center field a year ago, Paulo Orlando had made 45 starts over the previous three seasons, and Bubba Starling, the former Gardner Edgerton star who was a first-round pick.
Manager Ned Yost has mentioned Whit Merrifield as another possible option there.