Pretty big news here completely out of the blue.  Olivo has been the Marlins starting catcher for the last two years and has put up pretty good offensive numbers for a backstop.

2006 - .263/.287/.440, 430 at bats, 16 HR, 58 RBI
2007 - .237/.262/.405, 452 at bats, 16 HR, 60 RBI

Some things jump out right away.  Very low OBP.  A lot of power.  I understand Olivo is at least an average defensive catcher. In most ways he and Buck are pretty similar catchers.

Olivo Career - .239/.275/.405, 1786 at bats. 61 HR, 224 RBI.
Buck Career - .237/.297/.397, 1357 at bats, 53 HR, 175 RBI.

Olivo earned $2M last year.  He was entering his third and final year of arbitration when the Marlins non-tendered him rather than pay what probably would have amounted to about $3.5M.  I do not yet know the financial terms of his contract with the Royals but I understand it is a one year deal with some option attached for a second year.

This is the second consecutive year that Dayton Moore has brought in an established catcher to play with John Buck.  Is he trying to replace Buck?  Push Buck?  Or does he just like to have an expensive but steady back up to Buck? Next year Buck will be 27 and Olivo will be 29.

Anyway, this is big news and Olivo will certainly make the team better.

Someone will have to be removed from the 40-man roster to make space for Olivo.  This very well might be current backup catcher Matt Tupman.