--RHP Roman Colon was invited to the Royals' big-league spring training after agreeing to a minor league deal. Colon, 29, last pitched in the majors in 2006 for the Tigers. He pitched in Kansas City's farm system last year.
--SS Mike Aviles, who batted .325 as a rookie, is playing winter ball in Puerto Rico, where he was seventh in the league with a .321 batting average through 29 games. Aviles had nine doubles, five triples and a .379 on-base percentage. --RHP Federico Castaneda, who had a 1.19 ERA and has held opposing hitters to a .141 average (10 hits in 22 2/3 innings) in 19 relief appearances in the winter Mexico Pacific League, has signed a minor league contract with the Royals.
--INF Luis Hernandez, who batted .264 in 66 games for Baltimore the last two years, signed a minor league contract with the Royals with a spring training invite. Hernandez, 24, can play shortstop or second base and is a switch hitter.
--INF/OF Esteban German was among the league leaders in the winter Dominican Republic League with a .344 average in 45 games.
--C Brayan Pena was hitting .341 with eight home runs 42 games in the winter Dominican League. He had a .567 slugging percentage, and his 38 RBI ranked second in the league. He also had drawn 26 walks and owned a .423 on-base percentage.
BY THE NUMBERS: .263, .277 -- Royals' team batting averages before and after the All-Star break in 2008.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We expect Horacio Ramirez to be in our rotation next season. He's healthy, and some of our other guys have options. We like the idea of having at least one left-hander in our rotation." -- Royals general manager Dayton Moore.
