By ALAN ESKEW
SportsRadioKC.com 
 
SURPRISE, Ariz. – No way, Jose. I’m not buying it.
 
Jose Guillen showed up Tuesday for the initial full-squad workout. Most players had already been at the Surprise complex for more than 10 days and Guillen was the last one to report, but he did make it on time.
 
He was all smiles as he orchestrated a group media session by his locker after the workout.
 
“I feel great,” Guillen said.
 
He said he is just going to try “to help this team to win.” I’m sure owner David Glass, who is paying him $12 million in 2010, is happy to hear Guillen wants to help the Royals be victorious. Guillen is in the final season of a three-year, $36 million contract. I’m sure there will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth in the Glass family when that contract expires.
 
Guillen did not feel so good last year. He played 81 games, hit a paltry .242 and had a mere 17 extra-base hits (nine home runs and eight doubles) in 281 at-bats, while striking out 50 times. He had a .367 slugging percentage, which was his worst since .351 in 54 games in 2002 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
 
Defensively, the stature of Frank White next to the right-field fountains at the "new" Kauffman Stadium had more range than Guillen did playing in right last year.
 
Royals general manager Dayton Moore said Guillen will get the majority of his at-bats this year as the designated hitter. The applause you hear in the background is from the Royals pitching staff.  A drive to the right-center gap might actually wind up in a glove this summer instead of Guillen chasing it to the wall.
 
Guillen was on his best behavior for his camp debut on Tuesday. Don’t expect that to continue, especially if the Royals stick to their plan of having Scott Podsednik in left, Rick Ankiel in center and David DeJesus in right. That’s three center fielders in the outfield tracking down balls.
 
If Guillen does wind up as the primary DH, expect some fireworks in March.
 
Any thoughts, Jose, about DHing?
 
“I don’t know,” he answered after a long pause. “I came to spring training ready to play. I’m going to do whatever it takes to help this team to win. We’ll see how spring training goes and go from there.
 
“I’m not worried about that stuff. I know they come up in spring training. I just got to work hard, show them I’m ready to go and prove them different. That’s pretty much it. I’ve been 12 years in the league. I’m not a rookie anymore. I know what I need to do to show these guys I’m ready to go, ready to play.”
 
Guillen, who turns 34 on May 17, is coming off lower back and ankle surgeries. He believes he still possess the skills to play the outfield adequately.

“I feel like I have something to prove all over again coming from these two surgeries,” he said. “I’m fine. Everything is going to be okay. I’ve been running and cutting, doing a lot of stuff to try to test the ankle. Everything has gone perfect.
 
“I show up in great shape, something I haven’t shown up in a long time. I always show up at 235. I show up at 215. That’s a good sign. Trust me, I’m ready to go. Hopefully this will be the year that a lot of people expect from Jose Guillen to put up the numbers and play the way I’m capable of playing.”
 
Nice to know Guillen has not reported in shape in recent years. Wonder if that had anything to do with his injuries last year? Or in 2006 when he had a hamstring injury and needed right elbow surgery, which restricted him to 69 games with the Washington Nationals?
 
“Injuries are something you can’t control,” Guillen said.
 
No, but some might be prevented with better care of the body.
 
“Hopefully, this is going to be a big year,” Guillen said. “I’ll try to stay healthy and put the numbers I know I’m going to put up if I stay healthy. That’s my main thing is stay healthy.”
 
That's the main thing the Royals need. Manager Trey Hillman said he has not “pigeonholed Jose to be strictly the DH.” But Guillen will have to stay healthy.
 
“You’ve got to come in with an idea how it might fall,” Hillman said. “I’m still open-minded. We’re all still open-minded. It depends on how his body reacts and how he’s moving and how that compares to the other guys we have in the mix.”

If everybody is healthy, how this is going to fall is Podsednik, Ankiel and DeJesus will be in the outfield most games. Since all are left-handed hitters, Guillen might be in the outfield when the Royals face a tough left-handed pitcher. Guillen could be in the outfield when the Royals play in a smaller park. But most days, Guillen will likely be the designated hitter.