Q: Who do you think the Kansas City Royals need most?
— Renwic Marti, St. Louis

A: Albert Pujols and CC Sabathia. Just kidding, Renwic. I believe Dayton Moore has things going in the right direction, albeit with much left to accomplish.

That’s why he has pulled the trigger on two deals already this winter, getting first baseman Mike Jacobs and center fielder Coco Crisp for relievers Leo Nunez and Ramon Ramirez. But there are some questions and criticisms about both deals.

If there is one biggest need for KC, it’s power in the lineup. Jacobs hit 32 homers and drove in 93 for the Marlins in 2008, but has deficiencies.

His on-base percentage was only .299, and his power comes mostly against right-handed pitching (although that works for the Royals, who were better vs. left-handed pitching last season).

Some see Jacobs as a platoon type, and question his acquisition with Ryan Shealy and Kila Ka’aihue already on the roster. So maybe Moore is rolling the dice a bit here, and then again, all he gave up was Nunez, a solid middle reliever.

Crisp will bring some speed and fire to a somewhat blasé team, and without all the commotion that Jose Guillen causes. Crisp’s acquisition probably will mean David DeJesus shifts to left field, and Mark Teahen already is being mentioned in trade rumors with the Cubs. But the net is a loss of power in the outfield.

So this is a work in progress for Moore and the Royals. They could use another middle-of-the-rotation starter, although if Brian Bannister, Kyle Davies and Luke Hochevar join Gil Meche and Zack Greinke, that’s not too bad.

Q: Hey Tony, can the Phillies repeat as world champs in 2009? Will there be any new faces?
— Jimmy McGinn, Warrington, Pa.

A: As a rule, I don’t expect teams to repeat as World Series champs for the simple reason that they rarely do these days. Only the New York Yankees — three in a row 1998-2000 — have pulled it off since the eight-team, wild-card playoff format was instituted in 1995.

Going back further, the Toronto Blue Jays did it in 1992-93, and it happened three times in the 1970s — Yankees (1977-78), Cincinnati Reds (1975-76) and Oakland A’s (1972-74). But that’s it since the LCS era began in 1969.

Before that, when the two league pennant winners met in the World Series, it was more the rule than the exception — again thanks mostly to Yankee dominance. But it’s just so hard to get through three rounds of playoffs, and upsets regularly are going to occur.

But as to the Phillies specifically, they do have a great nucleus of stars that should stay together for a few more years, with the exception of free agent Pat Burrell.

However, Chase Utley’s impending hip surgery is an obvious setback. And they have lost one of the best general managers in the game in Pat Gillick, as well as top scouting lieutenant Mike Arbuckle, so new GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has a tough act to follow.

If Burrell signs elsewhere (and that’s likely if he gets a three-year offer), another right-handed hitter definitely is needed, and Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino can shift around depending on the new third outfielder.

The problem is, with up to 10 players eligible for salary arbitration, the payroll is going to spike even if Burrell leaves. That makes a big-ticket addition unlikely.

Their rotation is pretty strong one-through-four (assuming Jamie Moyer is re-signed) and there are enough in-house No. 5 candidates, but they could use another top starting pitcher. That’s why they are one of several teams in the A.J. Burnett bidding.

But they don’t usually go beyond three guaranteed years for a pitcher, so that most likely will restrict them to the next rung of available free-agents such as Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, Ben Sheets and Randy Wolf.

They also have hung onto potential free agent Scott Eyre as a second left-handed reliever along with J.C. Romero.

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