Royals put Colon on disabled list
Move gives Kansas City flexibility to add player for postseason
KANSAS CITY -- To gain more flexibility in possible postseason roster moves, the Royals on Wednesday placed infielder Christian Colon on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Sept. 7.
Colon has a fractured distal tip in his middle right finger, sustained while fielding a ground ball at third base, and has not played since Sept. 2.
If the Royals reach the postseason and Colon is not healthy, the move means that he could be replaced on the active roster by a player who was not on the 40-man roster prior to Sept. 1. Colon could not be replaced if he were not on the DL, assistant general manager Dean Taylor explained.
Similarly, pitcher Luke Hochevar could be replaced by another player because of his time on the 60-day disabled list following elbow surgery. That opens the way for a player such as pitcher Brandon Finnegan, who wasn't added to the 40-man roster until Sept. 1.