 Before the 1988 season, Power and Kurt Stillwell were traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Danny Jackson and Ángel Salazar.Power, who was happy to be closer to his hometown and family, said that he would accept a bullpen role with the team but hoped to earn a place on the team's starting rotation.He started the season in the bullpen, but the team promoted him to the starting rotation in early May when they expanded the rotation from four men to five men.