Backup infielder:

Danny Valencia
.304AVG .335OBP 8 HR's 23 RBI's 0.7 WAR

Backup infielder:

Daniel Descalso:
.238 AVG .290 OBP 5HR's 43 RBI's 0.1 WAR

Advantage Royals: No contest, Valencia crushes left handed pitching, and having that bat on the bench late in games will be a key piece for the Royals if Mike Moustakas struggles with lefties again this season. Also his war is much higher than Descalso.

Backup Outfielders w/ Speed:

Jarrod Dyson:
.258 AVG .326 OBP 2HR's 17 RBI's 34 SB's 1.8 WAR

Shane Robinson
.250 AVG .345 OBP 2HR's 16 RBI's 5SB's 1.0 WAR

Advantage Royals: Jarrod Dyson has the ability to steal a base pretty much when ever he wants, and it wouldn't surprise me if Dyson tries to steal home this season. Dyson has a higher WAR than Robinson, and had 12 fewer games than Robinson, but was still able to have higher production in less games.

Slugging Outfielders:
Jon Jay:
.276 AVG .351 OBP 7HR's 67 RBI's 1.5 WAR
Justin Maxwell:
.252 AVG .328 OBP 7HR's 25 RBI's 0.6 WAR

Advantage Cardinals: Slightly because Jay was a starter last season and played in 157 games, Maxwell only played in 75 games so if you were to translate his production over a full season Maxwell might be more productive. Jay seems like a decent player, and I'm not sure why Cardinal fans are wishing for him to get sent to the minors/traded.

Extra Infielder:
Pete Kozma:
.217 1HR 35 RBI's -0.2 WAR

Advantage Royals: we're not carrying an extra infielder this season the only infielder's will be Moustakas, Hosmer, Escobar, Infante, and Valencia. Plus Kozma has a negative WAR, I'm not quite sure how that is beneficial. By not carrying an extra position player it allows the Royals to carry an extra arm in the bullpen.

Backup Catchers: Both Perez and Molina will play at least 150 games this season so this position will only be used probably every Sunday afternoon this season.

Tony Cruz:
.203 AVG .240 OBP 1HR 13RBI's -0.6 WAR
Brett Hayes:
.278 .278OBP 1 HR 2RBI's 0.1 WAR

Advantage Royals: Cruz has a negative WAR provides very little offensive production, and Hayes is a good defensive catcher, and in a full season with the Marlins a few seasons ago he hit .231 5HR's 16 RBI's and had a 0.3 WAR

Overall Advantage Royals:
The Royals have a solid backup infielder who can hit .300 against lefties in a platoon situation, and has the ability to play 2nd, or 3rd base. The Royals have a solid backup catcher who will be watching for most of the season helping with scouting reports. Two backup outfielders with speed and power who both can generate a positive WAR, and be solid bench players who could start if an injury were to occur. The Cardinals have an infielder with a negative WAR, a catcher with a negative WAR, a solid backup outfielder with power in Jay, and a backup outfielder with decent speed who struggles to produce when given opportunities.

This post was edited on 3/27/14 at 5:37 pm