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Kansas City Royals News
Current KC Royals headlines
Royals sign Marte, Bianchi to one-year deals
The Royals reached one-year contract agreements Monday with reliever <strong>Victor Marte</strong> and minor-league infielder <strong>Jeff Bianchi</strong>. Terms were not disclosed, but both deals are believed to split contracts with the major-league portion at or near the $400,000 minimum.
[From Kansas City Star: Royals]
Everything coming together for Butler
Everything coming together for Butler
[From Kansas City Royals News]
Free Agent Signings
Royals sign reliever Marte, infielder Bianchi
The Royals signed pitcher Victor Marte and infielder Jeff Bianchi to big-league contracts on Monday.
[From Kansas City Star: Royals]
NOTES, QUOTES
--LHP Noel Arguelles, a 20-year-old Cuban defector, and RHP Aaron Crowe, a 2009 first-round pick who grew up in Topeka, Kan., will be two of the most watched pitchers in spring training. Neither has thrown a pitch in the pros, although Crowe did appear in the Arizona Fall League after signing late. Both are ticketed to open the season in the minors. --INF Mario Lisson, designated for assignment Feb. 1, cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Class AAA Omaha. Lisson will participate in the big-league spring training as a non-roster invitee. --LHP Edgar Osuna went 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 16 games, including two starts, in the winter Mexican Pacific League. Osuna was a Rule 5 draft pick from the Braves and will be a bullpen candidate in spring training. --RHP Robinson Tejeda made three starts, all no-decisions, in the Dominican winter league and allowed eight hits in 9 1/3 innings while striking out seven, walking two and hitting four. Tejeda will be a rotation candidate in spring training after going 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in six starts at the end of the season. --OF Adrian Ortiz hit .348 in 14 games in the Puerto Rico winter league. Ortiz was a 2007 fifth-round pick out of Pepperdine but grew up and went to high school in Puerto Rico. BY THE NUMBERS: 1-5 -- RHP Gil Meche's 2009 record in 10 starts at Kauffman Stadium. QUOTE TO NOTE: "I don't think I'll be playing quarterback for the Royals anytime soon." -- 3B Josh Fields, who threw for 2,494 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2003 for Oklahoma State.
[From FOXSports.com News for Royals]
INSIDE PITCH
While manager Trey Hillman said he enters spring training with a plan, several starting positions are written in pencil, not in stone. Alex Gordon is scheduled to start at third base, but after he hit .232 in 49 games last season and having hip surgery, that is not a given. Gordon has yet to fulfill his potential of being the second player chosen in the 2005 draft and has a career .250 average. Josh Fields, acquired in the Mark Teahen trade with the White Sox, could wrestle the job from Gordon with a good March. Chris Getz, also obtained in the Teahen deal, enters spring training as the starting second baseman. However, incumbent Alberto Callaspo, who hit .300 with 41 doubles in 2009, might not give up the job so easily. Getz is better defensively, but Callaspo's bat is superior. The outfield will consist of free agent acquisitions Rick Ankiel in center and Scott Podsednik in left, and David DeJesus will move from left to right. All three have played center in the majors, so there could be some interchangeable parts. Reigning American League Cy Young winner Zack Greinke and Gil Meche, who spent considerable time on the disabled list last season, man the only two guaranteed spots in the rotation. The other leading candidates are right-handers Brian Bannister, Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies and Robinson Tejeda. "Spring training's going to be an important time for us," general manager Dayton Moore said. "Not only does Trey and the staff have the challenge to get the players prepared to play on opening day and for 162 games, it's also going to be a period of evaluation that must take place."
[From FOXSports.com News for Royals]
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