Justin Maxwell signs minor league deal with the Giants

Outfielder Justin Maxwell has signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants according to the transaction page at Baseball America. The 31-year old right-handed hitter had spent the last season and a half in the Royals organization, although he spent most of last year in AAA Omaha. He was a six-year minor league free agent free to sign with any club. Maxwell began the year with the Major League club, but was demoted after hitting just .150/.222/.275 in 45 plate appearances. Maxwell hit .285/.352/.464 with Omaha, helping them win a Pacific Coast League championship, but was curiously not a September call-up with the big league team and seemed to fall out of favor with the organization.

Maxwell is a six-year Major League veteran with the Nationals, Astros, and Royals, and was acquired last August from Houston for pitcher Kyle Smith. Maxwell excelled with the Royals in 2013, hitting .268/.351/.505 in 111 plate appearances and is most remembered for this walk-off grand-slam against Texas on September 22 when the Royals were still trying to hang in the playoff race.

Maxwell will try to make the Giants as a reserve outfielder with a career line of .230/.344/.407 against left-handed pitching. He can play all three outfield positions passably, although he is stretched in center-field.