Kansas City, Mo. ? The Kansas City Royals are pitching camp in Florida this weekend with a definite game plan for improving on last season’s debacle.

They also have some optimism, buoyed by three key newcomers in leftfielder/leadoff hitter Chuck Knoblauch, rightfielder Michael Tucker and starting pitcher Darrell May.

Pitchers and catchers report today. Full squad workouts begin Feb. 21.

Areas in need of improvement are not hard to find on a team whose hitters drew fewer walks than any other American League club and whose pitchers surrendered more home runs than any team but Texas.

A big part of the plan is what general manager Allard Baird calls his “on-field approach.”

“It’s a mindset a willingness to walk and do a better job of improving our on-base percentage,” Baird said. “Offensively, we’re going to be very aggressive. We’re going to steal bases, hit and run. The importance of that has to be established in camp.”

May, acquired from Japan, is being counted on to give the starting rotation a big lift.

Another possibility would be rookie Mike MacDougall, who has A-plus stuff but has fought his control while working up the minor league ladder.

Getting a long and hopeful look during the spring will be left-hander Jose Rosado. A two-time All-Star pick, Rosado has hardly pitched in two years. But Baird is hopeful he can rebound from shoulder surgery.

“I’m not saying it won’t happen,” Baird said. “Everybody has got to stay open-minded. We’ll let his ability and health dictate.”

May is returning to America after four years in Japan.

“He went over there and really learned how to pitch,” Baird said. “A sneaky fastball. Aggressive. Willing to pitch in on both sides of the plate. He played in front of crowds of 40,000 and 50,000. He knows what it’s like to pitch in big games.”

The Royals will also be looking hard this spring for big strides by several young starters, including Chad Durbin, Dan Reichert and Jeff Suppan.

Durbin, a 25-year-old right-hander who went 9-16 last year with a 4.93 earned run average, might seem to have particular promise.

If Knoblauch has a good year batting leadoff and playing left field, nobody expects the former world champion Yankee to stay in Kansas City one minute longer than he has to. But a good year out of the former infielder could go a long way toward boosting the Royals to another level, especially if he supplies the clubhouse leadership Baird is hoping to see.

“We’ve added some speed (with Knoblauch and Tucker),” Baird said. “Now, we have to turn that speed into productive stolen bases.”

As pitchers and catchers reported, the Royals were locked in salary arbitration with shortstop Neifi Perez, which could open the door for 22-year-old prospect Angel Berroa.

Acquired in July in the Jermaine Dye trade, Perez hit a disappointing .241 in roughly half a season with the Royals. He’ll be asked to bat second behind Knoblauch. Off-season surgery on his thumb, it is hoped, will make a big difference.

Another big question mark going into spring training is outfielder Mark Quinn, who struck out 69 times last year while drawing only 12 walks but still hitting .269 with 17 home runs.