Louis Coleman Outrighted To Triple-A

APRIL 3: Coleman has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Omaha, reports Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). The decision leaves Flynn and Madson as the final two candidates for the Royals’ bullpen.

APRIL 2: The Royals have placed right-hander Louis Coleman on waivers, MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan reports (Twitter link).  Since Coleman is out of options, the Royals have to expose him to the waiver wire and now risk losing him to another club before they can send him down to Triple-A.

Coleman was said to be on the bubble to make Kansas City’s Opening Day roster, as he, Brian Flynn and Ryan Madson were battling for the last spot in the bullpen (or possibly two spots if Ned Yost went with an eight-man relief corps).  The righty was arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason, agreeing to a $725K deal for 2015.

Coleman, who turns 29 on Saturday, has spent his entire professional career with the Royals.  A fifth round pick from the 2009 draft, Coleman posted a 2.69 ERA, 10.3 K/9 and 2.78 K/BB rate over 140 1/3 bullpen innings from 2011-13, but he struggled last season, managing only a 5.56 ERA, 6.4 K/9 and 1.33 K/BB rate over 34 innings.  Despite his issues last year, I suspect Coleman will get some attention from teams looking to add bullpen reinforcements before Opening Day.