DALLAS | The search by the Royals for a utility infielder, preferably a right-handed hitter, appears focused on veteran free agents who still possesses some offensive punch &#x2014; and determining which, if any, are willing to accept a limited role.</p><p>Targets include Edgar Renteria, Mark DeRosa, Orlando Cabrera and Carlos Guillen.</p><p>&#x201C;You look for a guy who is able to play some short,&#x201D; general manager Dayton Moore said. &#x201C;Maybe a right-handed bat with power; a guy who can play some third. There are a lot of those guys out there, and we won&#x2019;t know who that person is until later.&#x201D;</p><p>The Royals figure to wait until next week before signing a free agent to sift the list of players not offered contracts before Monday&#x2019;s deadline. They could also opt for a younger candidate by picking an infielder today in the Rule 5 draft.</p><p>Renteria, DeRosa, Cabrera and Guillen all come with question marks.</p><p>Renteria, 35, is viewed by club officials as the best fit. He batted .251 with a .306 on-base percentage last season in 96 games at Cincinnati. He has a .286 average and a .343 OBP in a 16-year career with seven clubs.</p><p>DeRosa, 36, played just 73 games during the last two years because of wrist injuries. He has a .272 average and a .341 on-base percentage in 14 seasons with six clubs. He also has 93 homers and 452 RBIs in 1,105 career games. </p><p>Cabrera, 37, batted just .238 last year while splitting 130 games at Cleveland and San Francisco but has a .272 average in a 15-year career with nine clubs. </p><p>Guillen, 36, played only 96 games over the last two seasons at Detroit while battling knee and wrist injuries. He has a .285 average and .355 OBP in 14 seasons with Seattle and Detroit.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Marlins get Buehrle</span></strong></p><p>Miami added still another major free agent in reaching agreement with left-hander Mark Buehrle on a four-year contract for $58 million. The deal came after the club veered away from its pursuit of free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols.</p><p>The Marlins previously signed closer Heath Bell for $27 million over three years and shortstop Jos&#xE9; Reyes for $106 million over six years. They offered more than $200 million for 10 years to Pujols before shifting their attention to Buehrle.</p><p>And they still might not be done.</p><p>Miami continues to pursue free-agent pitcher C.J. Wilson and appear to be in a two-way battle with the Los Angeles Angels. The Marlins have offered a six-year deal, while the Angels say they won&#x2019;t go beyond five years.</p><p>The Buehrle signing reunites new Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen with his former ace. Buehrle, 32, was 161-119 in 12 previous seasons spent entirely with the White Sox, where Guillen managed from 2004 until leaving after last season.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">McCarver honored</span></strong></p><p>Fox Sports analyst Tim McCarver, a former big-league catcher, will be the 2012 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, which is presented annually by the Hall of Fame in recognition of &#x201C;excellence in baseball broadcasting.&#x201D;</p><p>McCarver, 70, was chosen from a group of 10 finalists by a 20-member committee, which included 15 previous Frick winners. He will receive his award July 21 as part of the Hall&#x2019;s annual Induction Weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y. Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews was the 2007 recipient.</p><p>McCarver shifted to broadcasting after concluding a 21-year playing career in 1980.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Ortiz wins DH award</span></strong></p><p>Boston&#x2019;s David Ortiz, for the sixth time in his career, is the winner of the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award. He received 73 of 84 first-place votes from a media panel.</p><p>Royals DH Billy Butler finished third, behind Ortiz and Detroit&#x2019;s Victor Martinez.</p><p>Ortiz, 36, is set to return next season to the Red Sox after agreeing to arbitration before Wednesday&#x2019;s deadline. He batted .309 last season with 40 doubles, 29 homers and 96 RBIs in 146 games.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Looking back</span></strong></p><p> It was five years ago today &#x2014; Dec. 8, 2006 &#x2014; that the Royals reached agreement with free-agent pitcher Gil Meche on a five-year deal for $55 million. It remains the biggest contract in franchise history.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Deals and whispers</span></strong></p><p>&#x2022;The Padres acquired closer Huston Street from the Rockies for a player to be determined. Colorado ate $1 million of the $8 million remaining on Street&#x2019;s contract.</p><p>&#x2022;The Phillies appear close to retaining shortstop Jimmy Rollins, whose representatives canceled a follow-up meeting with the Brewers. </p><p>&#x2022;The Giants say their payroll is maxed out and won&#x2019;t try to retain free-agent outfielders Carlos Beltran and Cody Ross.</p><p>&#x2022;The Yankees won posting rights for Japanese infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima with a $2 million bid, which gives them the right to negotiate with him.</p><p>&#x2022;The Pirates reacquired free-agent outfielder Nate McLouth on a one-year deal for $1.75 million and signed free-agent pitcher Erik Bedard for one year at $4.5 million. But talks stalled with former Royals utilityman Wilson Betemit.</p><p>&#x2022;Former Royals closer Octavio Dotel has trimmed his free-agent choices to the Tigers and Cardinals.