SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- The commissioner's office is reducing the suspension of Kansas City catcher Miguel Olivo to four games from five.
Olivo had been suspended for the start of the season because of a fight with the New York Mets last year.
Rookie Matt Tupman will back up starting catcher John Buck for the first four games. Olivo returns to the active roster April 5th at Minnesota.
The Royals will open the season short-handed, playing with a 24-man roster until Olivo returns.
The Royals are waiting to hear whether outfielder Jose Guillen's 15-day suspension will be eliminated.
Guillen and Baltimore's Jay Gibbons were penalized following reports linking them to performance-enhancing drugs.
The Royals signed Guillen to a three-year contract for 36 million dollars. He hit .290 with 23 home runs and 99 RBIs last season for Seattle.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
