--DH-1B Mike Sweeney, who received the Royals' prestigious Mr. Baseball Award at their recent banquet, has signed a minor league contract and a non-roster invite with the Mariners. Sweeney, who last played for the Royals in 2007 and holds the team record with 144 RBIs in 2000, played with the Athletics last season.
--The Orioles, who are looking for a first baseman, have reportedly contacted the Royals about a possible trade. The Royals have an abundance of first basemen -- Mike Jacobs, Ryan Shealy, Billy Butler, Ross Gload and Kila Ka'aihue. --RHP Oscar Villarreal, whom the Royals signed to a minor league contract with a spring training invite, can demand his release by May 15 or June 1 if he is not on the Royals' 25-man roster. Villarreal had a 5.02 ERA last season for the Astros as a reliever. He went 3-6 with a 5.93 ERA in 15 games, 11 as a starter, in the winter Mexico Pacific League.
--RHP Matt Wright, a non-roster invite to camp, went 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA in eight starts in the winter Dominican League.
--INF-OF Esteban German finished sixth in the Dominican Winter League with a .344 batting average in 45 games with Azucarero. German hit .245 last season with Kansas City.
BY THE NUMBERS: 6 -- Royals players who made their major league debuts in 2008. They were SS Mike Aviles, RHPs Yasuhiko Yabuta, Devon Lowery and Carlos Rosa, C Matt Tupman and 1B Kila Ka'aihue.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "(RHP Zack Greinke) may have been the most sought-after free agent in the winter of 2010." -- General manager Dayton Moore. The Royals prevented that by signing Greinke to a four-year $38 million extension, keeping him in Kansas City through the 2112 season.
