SURPRISE, Ariz. | Infielder Tug Hulett is just happy to be somewhere after a week-plus of limbo once he was designated for assignment by the Seattle Mariners.</p><p> That he now finds himself surrounded by a platoon of ex-teammates with the Royals only makes it better.</p><p> "There are a lot of guys here whom I played with on the Mariners," he said. "And some guys I didn't play with on the Mariners, I played with on the Rangers. So it's pretty nice.</p><p> "With the familiar faces, it's not too daunting." The Royals acquired Hulett, who turns 26 in eight days, on Thursday in a waiver claim. That afternoon, he toured the club's spring home and by Friday was on the field and wearing his newly-issued No. 58.</p><p> Hulett is a long shot to break camp with the Royals but has two option years remaining and projects as the second baseman at Class AAA Omaha. He has played second primarily throughout his career but has also logged time at shortstop and third base. "He's a versatile guy with a history of a good on-base percentage," general manager Dayton Moore said. "He makes our organization better."</p><p> Hulett spent the last week working out at Arizona State because players who are designated for assignment are no longer permitted to use their former club’s facilities.</p><p> "I showed up for camp a week early," he said, "and they said: 'Thanks for coming. Ahhh … you can't come to the field.'</p><p> "I didn't know what to think of that. They wanted me but, at the same time, they didn't. So when I got the call that I could come over here, I was really excited."</p><p> Hulett batted .224 last season by going 11 for 49 in 30 games for the Mariners. He has a .283 career average and .394 on-base percentage in five career minor-league seasons since his selection by Texas in the 14th round of the 2004 draft.</p><p> The Rangers kept Hulett for four years before sending him to Seattle in a Dec. 12, 2007, trade for first baseman Ben Broussard. Hulett batted .298 last season with 14 homers and 47 RBIs in 91 games at Class AAA Tacoma.</p><p> Hulett appeared positioned to replace Willie Bloomquist as the Mariners' utility infielder. Bloomquist held the role for several years before signing a two-year deal with the Royals as a free agent in January.</p><p> "That's what everybody thought, I guess," Hulett said. "But there was a regime change, and they're bringing in a lot of different guys. I was the low man on the totem pole, and that's just how it works in this game."</p><p> Hulett is a left-handed hitter who made his big-league debut last July 12 by going one for three at Kauffman Stadium in Seattle's 5-4 loss to the Royals. He struck out in his first at-bat against Gil Meche before floating a single into center field.</p><p> "Then I hit a line drive that (second baseman Mark) Grudzielanek jumped up and grabbed," Hulett recalled. "So I had a pretty good debut. For me to go back to the place where I made my debut is kind of fitting."</p><p><strong>Guillen still limited</strong></p><p> Outfielder José Guillen says he is walking "much better" two days after yanking that deeply imbedded ingrown nail out of his right big toe, but the Royals are insisting on a cautious approach.</p><p> So Guillen took part only in some light conditioning work, including some running, before heading back to the clubhouse.</p><p> "He's tough," manager Trey Hillman said, "but that toe still looks like hamburger. It's a day-to-day thing. We're going to have to see how that toe reacts."</p><p><strong>No Hudson</strong></p><p> It's official: Free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson isn't coming to the Royals.