The Royals have signed outfielder Jose Guillen to a 3-year, $36 million dollar contract. The Royals have needed a big bat and they think they have found one in Guillen. The 31-year old righty swinger played in 153 games for the Mariners last season and he was 172 for 593 (.290 avg, .813 OPS) with 84 runs scored, 23 homers and 99 RBIs. He has now played in 1,268 career games and he is 1,230 for 4,485 (.274 avg, .772 OPS) with 597 runs scored, 166 homers, 673 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. The Royals might have overpaid for Guillen but he’s a giant upgrade at one of the corner outfield spots.

UPDATE: Jose Guillen has been suspended for the first 15 games of next baseball season for violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Policy. Guillen has appealed the ruling.

The Royals have signed 34 year old righty reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta to a 2-year contract with an option for 2010. Yabuta pitched in 58 games last season in Japan and he was 4-6 with 4 saves, a 2.73 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Yabuta has pitched in 343 games (86 starts) in his Japanese baseball career and he is 44-59 with 9 saves, a 4.03 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Look for Yabuta to do a good job for the Royals and help strengthen the bullpen in 2008.