Royals sign Maroth
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
The quest to find a left-handed starting pitcher prompted the Royals to sign veteran Mike Maroth to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to big-league camp.
Maroth, 30, was a combined 5-7 with a 6.89 ERA last season while splitting time with Detroit and St. Louis. He pitched just 13 games for the Tigers in 2006 before suffering season-ending elbow surgery to remove bone chips.
Jorge De La Rosa is the only experienced left-handed starter on the club’s 40-man roster.
•INTEREST IN MENCH: The Royals appear to be interested in outfielder Kevin Mench. He is a free agent after batting .267 last year for Milwaukee with eight homers and 37 RBIs in 101 games.
The Yankees and Rangers have also shown limited interest in Mench, 30, who made $3.4 million last season.
NATIONAL NEWS
•MARINERS GET BEDARD FROM ORIOLES: Left-hander Erik Bedard was acquired by Seattle from Baltimore on Friday for five prospects. Baltimore received outfielder Adam Jones, who probably will start in center field. The Orioles also obtained reliever George Sherrill and pitchers Chris Tillman, Tony Butler and Kam Mickolio. Bedard went 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA last season and set a franchise record with 221 strikeouts.
•FOULKE BACK WITH A’S: Keith Foulke ended his retirement and returned to Oakland, agreeing to a $700,000, one-year contract that allows him to earn $2.5 million more in bonuses.
•THE SCHILLING DECISION: Craig Morgan, the doctor who claims he knows Curt Schilling’s shoulder “better than anybody who breathes on this planet,” insists surgery is the only way Schilling can pitch again. But Boston’s team physician believes rehabilitation is the best way for Schilling to play. Schilling wrote on his blog that he has agreed to the club’s request to rely on rest and rehabilitation.
Join the discussion
Share your observations and experiences about news. Lively, open debate is the goal, but please refrain from personal attacks or comments that are racist, vulgar or otherwise inappropriate. If you see an inappropriate comment, please click the "Report as violation" link to notify a KansasCity.com editor. Thanks for your feedback.