Manager Ned Yost said Thursday that Morales is the favorite to win one of the Royals' final two bullpen spots, Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports.

Manager Ned Yost said Thursday that Morales is the favorite to win one of the Royals' final two bullpen spots, Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star reports.

Analysis:

Morales, who signed a minor league deal last month, struggled with the Rockies in 2014, but he's a reliable arm capable of handling a heavy workload, so he's among the Royals' more dependable (at least from a durability standpoint) options heading into 2015. In six appearances this spring, Morales has scattered seven hits and four earned runs over eight innings.