<table> </table> It&#8217;s decision time tonight for the Royals in regard to veteran second baseman <strong>Mark Grudzielanek</strong>. Clubs have until 11 p.m. Central time to offer arbitration to their free agents to receive a compensatory draft pick if the player signs elsewhere.</p><p>The Royals have only one free agent: Grudzielanek, a 14-year veteran who batted .299 last season in 86 games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in an Aug. 1 collision with first baseman <strong>Ross Gload</strong>.</p><p>Offering arbitration to Grudzielanek, 38, once seemed unlikely because of its potential financial ramifications, but general manager Dayton Moore refuses to rule it out.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re still evaluating that decision and comparing it to other possibilities,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you what I&#8217;ve been telling our staff: We&#8217;re still not ready to make a decision right now.&#8221;</p><p>Moore said a decision might not be announced until the deadline.</p><p>Grudzielanek spent the last three seasons with the Royals. He won a Gold Glove for defensive excellence in 2006 and was chosen as the club&#8217;s player of the year in 2007.</p><p>Clubs must offer arbitration to their free agents to qualify for compensation. Grudzielanek is classified as a Type B free agent, which would net a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds of next June&#8217;s new-player draft.</p><p>The catch is this: Grudzielanek could accept arbitration if he believes he is unlikely to match his 2008 salary of $4.5 million on the open market &#8212; especially since arbitration probably would ensure a raise to $5 million or more in 2009.</p><p>Players offered arbitration must accept or reject the offer before 11 p.m. Central time Sunday.</p><p>&#8220;We understand the potential (financial) exposure if we do offer him arbitration,&#8221; Moore said. &#8220;We&#8217;ll work through it. There&#8217;s flexibility (in the payroll) to make it work.&#8221;</p><p>Keeping Grudzielanek probably would force the Royals to shed payroll in some manner. The club&#8217;s roster, as now constituted without Grudzielanek, projects to about $70 million. Moore previously cited that figure as a likely upper limit.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve got to be there or close to there come October of next year,&#8221; Moore acknowledged.</p><p>&#8226;The Royals moved to replenish their depth-depleted bullpen by signing former-Pittsburgh reliever <strong>Franquelis Osoria </strong>to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to big-league camp.</p><p>Osoria, 27, was 4-3 with a 6.08 ERA last season for the Pirates in 43 games.</p><p>&#8226; Catcher <strong>Matt Tupman </strong>is staying with the Royals after agreeing to a minor-league contract. He had the option of becoming a free agent when he recently cleared waivers after being removed from the 40-man roster.</p><p>The Royals also signed catcher <strong>J.R. House</strong> to a minor-league deal. House, 29, batted .306 last season with 18 homers and 60 RBIs for Class AAA Round Rock in the Houston system.