The Kansas City Royals are off to a slow start after winning the World Series last fall.

A year ago, they acquired Ben Zobrist and Johnny Cueto near to deadline to boost the roster for a playoff run. They don't have enough depth in their farm system to pull off similar deals this summer.

"The Royals have some prospects other teams find attractive, but most are at the lower levels, where major deals are rarely done," writes Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star. "Three of the four minor-league prospects the Royals dealt a year ago are now in big-league rotations."

Kansas City only has two players among Baseball America's top 100 prospects -- Raul Mondesi, was has been suspended 50 games, and Kyle Zimmer.