The Kansas City Royals are in the midst of the longest playoff drought in professional sports, but they are hoping to reverse their fortunes in 2014.

The club has been encouraged by an 86-win campaign.

"We hope so," Dayton Moore said. "We feel like to get into the playoffs you have to play consistently over 162 games. We think this team has the talent to do that. The defense is going to show up every day and perform. The starting pitchers have a history of throwing strikes. The bullpen is talented and powerful and I think the offense is going to continue to trend upward as it did last year in the second half."

The Royals quietly addressed their most glaring weaknesses this winter.