The Royals have identified the Mets as a possible trading partner for Jose Guillen, reports Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News.
The Mets would reportedly only consider Guillen if they miss out on Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. With $12 million remaining in the last year of the contract, the Royals would have to eat a significant chunk of salary to even get the Mets to return phone calls. If there's a fit, the Royals would like a young outfielder in return and are eyeing Angel Pagan. We don't see a fit here; the Mets can just sign a second-tier outfielder for short money and retain Pagan either way.
Royals re-signed RHP Juan Abreu to a minor league contract.
Abreu, 24, recently became a minor league free agent. Armed with an impressive heater, Abreu posted a 1.69 ERA and 28/14 K/BB ratio in 20 relief appearances with Class A Wilmington, but struggled to a 5.75 ERA in 16 games upon a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
Royals resigned catcher Vance Wilson to a minor league contract.
Wilson missed the beginning of spring training with a right elbow injury. The 36-year old batted .270/.342/.461 in 229 at-bats for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He'll compete for a major league spot in spring training.
Royals designated infielder Tug Hulett for assignment.
The Royals cut Hulett to make room on the 40-man roster. The 26-year-old infielder spent most of the season at Triple-A Omaha, but batted .111/.158/.111 with one RBI in 18 at-bats with the big club. Hulett hasn't done much at the major league level, but he has shown good on-base skills while playing all over the diamond in the minors.
Royals purchased the contracts of INF Jeff Bianchi, OF Jordan Parraz, OF Jarrod Dyson, C Manny Pina and RHP Blake Wood.
The roster moves protect the players from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft. Bianchi hasn't exactly built on his impressive professional debut in 2006, but he managed a respectable .308/.358/.435 batting line this season between two different minor league levels and is only 23 years of age.
Royals signed RHP Jorge Campillo to a minor league contract.
Campillo, 31, posted a 1-0 record and 4.15 ERA in five games with the Braves this season before hitting the long-term disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. In 2008, he went 8-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 39 appearances (25 starts). It's not a bad signing for Kansas City, especially at such a low cost.
Royals agreed to terms with RHP Brad Thompson on a one-year minor league contract.
As a minor league free agent, Thompson was able to agree to a contract before Friday. The contract doesn't include a spot on Kansas City's 40-man roster, but he stands a pretty good chance of making the roster out of spring training, whether out of the bullpen or as a fifth starter. Thompson, 28, had a 4.36 ERA in parts of five seasons with the St. Louis, including a 4.84 ERA in 32 appearances (eight starts) in 2009.
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