KANSAS CITY -- The subject always seemed to come up when Joakim Soria was making his mark as a closer. Why not make him a starting pitcher?

Now that he's been replaced, at least temporarily as the Royals' closer, manager Ned Yost was asked if that topic has emerged.

"Let me put it this way: There's been no serious talk about that," Yost said.

Soria was a starter early in his pro career and even pitched a perfect game for Obregon in the Mexican Winter League just two days after being selected in the 2006 Rule 5 Draft by the Royals from the Padres.

"He's got the pitches to be a starter," Yost said. "But there's no thought of that right now."