SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Royals left-hander Brian Flynn is out of options. If the Royals were to try to send him to the Minors this spring, he would have to clear waivers and could be claimed by another club.
"I'm not taking anything for granted being out of options," Flynn said. "I want to be in Kansas City. It's close to home. They've been really good to me here.
"I don't want to have the surprise tap on the shoulder and meeting at the end of camp. I don't want to have to go through that whole process. I'm going to keep treating it like I've got to make the squad because I definitely didn't prove anything last year with all the injuries."
Flynn fractured a vertebra when he fell through the roof of his barn in Oklahoma last year just before reporting to Spring Training. He appeared in only one big league game and finished the season on the disabled list with a left groin strain.
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Flynn threw two scoreless innings Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers to lower his Cactus League ERA to 1.13 ERA in four appearances.
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Another lefty bullpen candidate is Tim Hill, a side-armer who was added to the 40-man roster for the first time. He has never pitched above Double-A.
The Royals are also extremely high on prospect Richard Lovelady, a lefty reliever who was a 10th-round 2016 Draft pick and vaulted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas last year.
Other out-of-options players on the Royals' roster include Jorge Soler, Cheslor Cuthbert and Wily Peralta who, if healthy, appear to be near locks to break camp with the club. Peralta, however, is having less than an impressive spring with a 16.20 ERA and allowing three home runs in five innings.
Right-hander Jesse Hahn, too, is out of options, but will begin the season on the 60-day DL.
Sometimes, having options can work against a player. Ramon Torres and Ryan Goins are competing for a utility infield roster spot.
Torres has an option left and the Royals might desire to use that, allowing the 25-year-old to get more steady work with Triple-A Omaha.
On the flip side, Goins, 30, is in camp on a Minor League contract. He would have to be added to the 40-man big league roster if he makes the club.

"It is what it is," Goins said. "You can't control being a non-roster invite. You just come here and compete every day and try to put your best foot forward daily and let them see that."
Goins, who played in 143 games last season with the Blue Jays, has an opt-out date next week if the Royals do not put him on the Major League roster.