KANSAS CITY ROYALS CATCHER JASON LARUE throws during spring training. LaRue and the Royals worked out Monday in Surprise, Ariz.

Surprise, Ariz. ? There is competition for Kansas City’s starting catching job this spring training after the Royals acquired Jason LaRue in an offseason trade.

LaRue was the No. 1 catcher for Cincinnati from 2001-2005, but lost his starting job to David Ross after he had knee surgery during spring training last year.

John Buck has been Kansas City’s starting catcher for the past 21â2 seasons, but with the acquisition of LaRue, there are no guarantees he’ll be the starter when the season rolls around.

“I like them both,” Royals manager Buddy Bell said. “Our catching situation is in good hands with either one of them.”

LaRue welcomed the trade from the Reds to the Royals, where he has an opportunity to again start. He said he anticipated being traded.

“I wouldn’t say I requested one,” LaRue said. “I basically told them if they don’t have plans on me starting that I don’t want to be here. I know in my mind and with what I do that I’m still a starting catcher in this game and if that is not their plan, they need to get rid of me.”

LaRue, who was traded Nov. 20 for a player to be named, made only 57 starts behind the plate in 2006 and hit a career low .194 in 191 at-bats. He had surgery March 27 to repair a torn medical meniscus in his right knee and began the season on the disabled list.

“I was hitting and just tore cartilage in my knee swinging,” LaRue said. “My cleat stuck and I just felt a pop. I feel 100 percent now. I think one of the mistakes I probably made was trying to come back too early.”

LaRue had only one hit, a home run, in 22 at-bats in August, but hit .350 in September.

“It (the injury) is part of the game and unfortunately it happened,” LaRue said. “The easiest thing is it is over and done with and then you move on. It is one of those things in this game you can’t control. Obviously, if you can’t control it, you really can’t worry about it.”

LaRue, who was a fifth-round pick in 1995 out of Dallas Baptist University, had spent his entire career with Cincinnati.

LaRue turns 33 on March 19, while Buck, who hit .245 with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs in 114 games last season, is 26. Though the two are competing for the starting job, their lockers are next to each other in the clubhouse and they talk often.