TheFightinPhils
02-25-2005, 07:16 PM
SURPRISE, Ariz. - Outfielder Matt Diaz, who refused a waiver claim by the Baltimore Orioles, signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals and reported to the big league camp on Friday.
Diaz, 26, hit .332 with 21 home runs and 93 RBIs last season for Durham, the Class AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He hit .190 in 10 games with Tampa Bay.
"We see him as a prospect, not just as a supporting cast for the big league club," Royals general manager Allard Baird said. "He's got good power and is a high energy guy."
Baird said Diaz will likely begin the season with the Royals' Class AAA Omaha club unless the Royals have spring training injuries to outfielders under Major League contract.
The Royals also signed Carlos Febles to a two-year minor league contract. Febles was the Royals' second baseman from 1999 to 2003, when he was released.
Febles sufferred a knee injury in December playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. He is scheduled to have knee surgery and will miss this season. He played last season for Pawtucket, hitting .257 for the Boston Red Sox Class AAA farm club.
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/state/10994535.htm
Diaz, 26, hit .332 with 21 home runs and 93 RBIs last season for Durham, the Class AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He hit .190 in 10 games with Tampa Bay.
"We see him as a prospect, not just as a supporting cast for the big league club," Royals general manager Allard Baird said. "He's got good power and is a high energy guy."
Baird said Diaz will likely begin the season with the Royals' Class AAA Omaha club unless the Royals have spring training injuries to outfielders under Major League contract.
The Royals also signed Carlos Febles to a two-year minor league contract. Febles was the Royals' second baseman from 1999 to 2003, when he was released.
Febles sufferred a knee injury in December playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. He is scheduled to have knee surgery and will miss this season. He played last season for Pawtucket, hitting .257 for the Boston Red Sox Class AAA farm club.
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/state/10994535.htm