Return of Alex Gordon highlights Royals' roster expansion

Veteran Jonny Gomes isn't the only outfielder on Kansas City's roster today who wasn't there yesterday. So are All-Star left fielder Alex Gordon and a minor leaguer who did some major damage on the basepaths for the Royals late last season.

The Royals announced Tuesday that they have made several roster moves as major league rosters can expand to 40 players. Topping the list is Gordon's return from his rehab assignment in Triple A Omaha. Gordon also was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list with a left groin strain that first sidelined him shortly before the All-Star break.

Gomes, who was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in the middle of a game Monday night, will join the team today and be in uniform (No. 31) for tonight's 7:10 game against the Detroit Tigers.

Additionally, the Royals have recalled infielders Christian Colon and Cheslor Cuthbert and catcher Francisco Pena from Omaha and outfielder Terrance Gore from Double A Northwest Arkansas.

Royals fans will remember Gore as the speedster who manager Ned Yost often inserted as a pinch runner late in games down the stretch and in the playoffs in 2014. Gore has spent all of this season in Double A.

Kansas City has also selected the contracts of left-handed pitcher Scott Alexander and right-handed pitcher Miguel Almonte from Omaha. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club has transferred left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas to the 60-day disabled list (ulnar collateral ligament tear).

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says "Europe as a whole needs to move

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says "Europe as a whole needs to move" on how to deal with refugees and migrants arriving in the EU.
"If Europe fails on the question of refugees, then it won't be the Europe we wished for," she said.
She was speaking after Austrian authorities arrested five suspected people smugglers along the country's eastern borders.
On Thursday, 71 dead migrants were found near the Hungarian border.
Austrian police say more than 200 others were found alive overnight.
Ms Merkel said European countries must share the burden of refugees.
Germany is the main destination for migrants arriving on the EU's eastern borders and expects the number of asylum seekers it receives to quadruple to about 800,000 in 2015.
Mrs Merkel said "Germany is a strong country - we will manage."
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The rules governing immigration to the EU - explained in 90 seconds
But she said there would be "no tolerance for those who question the dignity of other people" after a spate of arson attacks on refugee shelters and anti-migrant demonstrations.
"The number of people... helping strangers get through cities and communities and even taking them into their homes is far greater than the number of xenophobes," she went on.
Mrs Merkel's call for greater co-operation was echoed by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who warned that Europe's migrant crisis would be a "long and difficult challenge".