Editor's note: Here are a few excerpts from Sam Mellinger's Upon Further Review blog at kansascity.com. For the full take, visit kansascity.com/sports.

On Mark Teahen

• He is big and strong, but hit just 34 homers over the last three full seasons. He is athletic and fast, but stole only 12 bases the last two years.

He is also, at least, a solid big leaguer whose value increases with defensive versatility. As the old saying goes, he's the kind of player you can win with, but not because of.

On Chris Getz

• Defensive metrics aren't kind to Getz, but he potentially improves the Royals up the middle - big need - and gives them speed - another big need.

On Josh Fields

Fields hasn't stayed healthy the last two seasons, but he did hit 23 homers in 100 games as a rookie in 2007, potentially giving the Royals some power - a third big need.

On the other hand

• It's possible that the Royals just traded a solid big leaguer - one of their few expendable players with any trade value - for two duds. Then again, both Fields and Getz are 26 with relatively short big league resumes, so you figure each can get better.