Royals sign Cody Asche to minor league deal

The Royals have signed infielder Cody Asche to a minor league deal. The 27-year old has hit .234/.293/.376 in parts of five Major League seasons with 1,349 plate appearances.

Asche was originally a fourth-round pick by the Phillies out of the University of Nebraska. He is one of the few Cornhuskers in the big leagues who was not a groomsman in Alex Gordon’s wedding. The left-handed hitter showed enough promise in the minors to serve as the Phillies third baseman for a few seasons, but his bat never quite developed. He was non-tendered and spent last season in the White Sox organization.

Could he be in the mix for the Royals at third base?

Okay then.

Asche will probably hit in the middle of the order for Omaha and serve as depth. But expect next year’s spring training to be open auditions, and he could get a long look as a 1B/3B/DH.

The Royals also signed 30-year old right-handed pitcher Mike Broadway to a minor league contract. He has pitched 22 ²⁄₃ innings in the big leagues in 2015 and 2016 with the Giants. He spent last year in AAA with the Rays and Nationals, struggling with a 5.36 ERA in all of his stops combined. He also pitched ten innings in Japan in 2016. He was originally drafted by the Braves back in 2005.