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The Royals have signed long-time veteran infielder Rafael Furcal, in a story broken by our own BHWick and confirmed by beat writer Andy McCullough. Terms have not been disclosed. The 37-year old Furcal is a fourteen year Major League veteran with a career line of .281/.346/.402. He spent 2000-2005 with the Atlanta Braves, where Dayton Moore was in the front office at the time. Furcal is a three-time All-Star and was named 2000 National League Rookie of the Year.
Furcal played just nine games with the Marlins last year, hitting .171/.216/.229. He missed much of the season with hamstring injuries and will have to rehab in minor league camp initially with the Royals. Furcall missed the entire 2013 season after having Tommy John surgery. In his last full season in 2012, Furcal hit .264/.325/.346 with the Cardinals and was named an All-Star with 1.3 rWAR for the year.
Furcal could serve as infield depth should Omar Infante miss time due to injury. He joins Christian Colon, Ryan Roberts, and Ryan Jackson in the mix of potential reserve middle infielders.