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The Royals are the champs, but that did not stop them from having a busy winter. They spent over $170 million in free agent contracts last off-season and added three significant free agents - Ian Kennedy, Joakim Soria, and Mike Minor. The Royals were not all about big moves however. As they showed us last year with Chris Young and Ryan Madson, some times it is the less-heralded transaction that can make a huge difference.
Did you miss a signing? Here are all the new acquisitions to the organization since the end of last season, according to Baseball America and other sources.
Arrivals | Transaction | Old org. | ||
SS | Barmes, Clint | Minor league free agent | MLB | SDP |
3B | Carrasco, Denicher | Minor league free agent | ||
P | Castillo, Adriam | Minor league free agent | ||
IF | Castro, Ramon | Minor league free agent | ||
C | Cruz, Tony | Trade | MLB | STL |
C | de San Miguel, Allan | Minor league free agent | Australia | |
1B | Decker, Cody | Minor league free agent | AAA/MLB | SDP |
P | Duensing, Brian | Minor league free agent | MLB | MIN |
3B | Edwards, David | Minor league free agent | College | |
P | Fana, Jeisson | Minor league free agent | ||
P | Gee, Dillon | Minor league free agent | AAA/MLB | NYM |
P | Huff, David | Minor league free agent | AAA/MLB | LAD |
P | Kennedy, Ian | MLB free agent | MLB | SDP |
P | Kern, Bruce | Minor league free agent | Atlantic Lg | Long Island |
P | Lannan, John | Minor league free agent | AAA | COL |
P | Minor, Mike | MLB free agent | MLB - DL | ATL |
C | Mondesi, Paul | Minor league free agent | ||
P | Moylan, Peter | Minor league free agent | AAA/MLB | LAD |
P | Ohlendorf, Ross | Minor league free agent | AAA/MLB | TEX |
P | Oliveros, Lester | Minor league free agent | AAA | MIN |
P | Rodriguez, Enderson | Minor league free agent | ||
OF | Snider, Travis | Minor league free agent | AAA/MLB | BAL/PIT |
P | Soria, Joakim | MLB free agent | MLB | DET/PIT |
P | Wang, Chien Ming | Minor league free agent | AAA | ATL/SEA |
Some of the candidates to be the next serviceable minor league free agents are Dillon Gee, Peter Moylan, Brian Duensing, and Travis Snider. Cody Decker will be good for some comic relief in Omaha. Bruce Kern is a 27-year old right-hander who once pitched in the Rockies organization. He never showed much command, but perhaps a year in the independent Atlantic League has done him well. The Royals also brought over 28-year old Australian catcher Allan de San Miguel after his showing in the World Baseball Classic. The Royals also signed Paul Mondesi. That is not a typo. He is an 18 year old catcher from New York City. It is not known if he is related to top Royals prospect Raul Mondesi.
To bring in new players, the Royals must say goodbye to some old friends. Here are all the players that have left the organization since the end of last season.
Departures | Transaction | Level | New org. | |
OF | Adams, Lane | Designated for assignment | AA/AAA | |
P | Baumann, Buddy | Minor league free agent | AAA | SDP |
IF | Bocock, Brian | Released | ||
P | Broderick, Brian | Minor league free agent | AAA | |
P | Chamberlain, Joba | Released | AAA/MLB | CLE |
P | Clemens, Paul | Minor league free agent | AA/AAA | MIA |
P | Coleman, Casey | Refused assignment | AAA | SEA |
P | Coleman, Louis | Released | AAA/MLB | LAD |
P | Cueto, Johnny | MLB free agent | MLB | SFG |
P | Darhower, Chase | Released | Rookie | |
P | Dwyer, Chris | Minor league free agent | AAA | BAL |
C | Gibbs, Micah | Minor league Rule 5 draft | AA/AAA | Retired |
OF | Gomes, Johnny | MLB free agent | MLB | Japan |
OF | Gomez, Brawlun | Released | Adv. Rookie | |
P | Green, Nick | Released | Adv/A/High A | |
P | Guevara, Cruz | Released | Adv. R/A | |
P | Guthrie, Jeremy | MLB free agent | MLB | |
P | Holland, Greg | Non-tendered | MLB | |
1B | Kotchman, Casey | Minor league free agent | AAA | TOR |
IF | Kuntz, Kevin | Released | ||
P | Madson, Ryan | MLB free agent | MLB | OAK |
P | Mariot, Michael | Placed on waivers | AAA/MLB | PHI |
IF | Martinez, Jose | Trade | Rook/Adv.R | STL |
P | Morales, Franklin | MLB free agent | MLB | |
C | Nessy, Santiago | Minor league Rule 5 draft | High A/AA | NYY |
IF | Noriega, Gabriel | Minor league free agent | Adv./AA/AAA | ARI |
P | Patton, Troy | Minor league free agent | AAA | MIA |
C | Pena, Francisco | Trade | AAA/MLB | BAL |
P | Pino, Yohan | Refused assignment | AAA/MLB | Korea |
OF | Rios, Alex | MLB free agent | MLB | |
P | Rodriguez, Wandy | Released | AAA/MLB | HOU |
P | Santiago, Felix | Minor league free agent | DSL | |
3B | Stover, Trey | Released | Rookie | |
P | Stumpf, Daniel | Rule 5 draft | AA | PHI |
P | Sulbaran, J.C. | Minor league free agent | AA/AAA | STL |
P | Thomas, Brandon | Released | Adv. Rookie | |
C | Tovar, Roberto | Released | DSL | |
P | Yambati, Robinson | Minor league free agent | High A/AAA | |
IF | Zobrist, Ben | MLB free agent | MLB | CHC |
Royals fans are probably glad to see the Joba Chamberlain experience finished in Kansas City. Buddy Baumann signed a Major League contract with the Padres and has a decent shot to make their club. Yohan Pino will play with the KT Wiz of the Korean Baseball Organization. Daniel Stumpf could return to the organization if he fails to make the Phillies' Major League team and clears waivers. Infielder Jose Martinez is not to be confused with the outfielder by the same name that hit .382 for Omaha. Catcher Micah Gibbs was selected in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft, but elected to take a job with his alma mater instead.