The Royals have signed 39-year old righty reliever Matt Herges to a minor league deal. Herges pitched in 30 games (0 starts) with the Indians and Rockies last season in which he was 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has now pitched in 567 games (4 starts) in his major league career and he is 43-35 with 34 saves, a 3.91 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Herges could help out the Royals out of the pen in 2010 so this was a nice low risk signing for them.

The Royals have designated 25-year old switch-hitting shortstop Luis Hernandez for assignment. Hernandez played in 37 games for the Royals last season and he was 15 for 73 (.205 avg, .476 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 4 RBIs and 1 stolen base. In this three years in the majors, Hernandez has played in 103 games in which he is 54 for 221 (.244 avg, .560 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 1 homer, 14 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. The Royals needed Hernadez’ roster spot for Scott Podsednik. The Royals won’t miss Hernandez much as he just can’t hit the ball.

Willie Wilson was one of the best lead-off hitters that I have ever seen. In 15-years with the Royals, Wilson played in 1,787 games in which he was 1,968 for 6,799 (.289 avg, .711 OPS) with 1,060 runs scored, 40 homers, 509 RBIs and 612 stolen bases. Wilson also cranked 133 watch me fly triples which is second in team history. Wilson led the league in triples 5 times for the Royals and he also led the American League in steals in 1979 with 83 of them. 1980 was by far Wilson’s best season with the Royals. He played in 161 games in 1980 and he was 230 for 705 (.326 avg, .778 OPS) with 133 runs scored, 3 homers, 49 RBIs and 79 stolen bases. He finished fourth in the voting for the MVP Award in the A.L. that year. Wilson is the all-time leader in steals for the Royals. He is also #4 in hits, #3 in runs scored and #9 in RBIs in team history.

The Royals have signed 33-year old lefty swinging outfielder Scott Podsednik. Podsednik played in 132 games for the White Sox last season and he was 163 for 537 (.304 avg, .764 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 7 homers, 48 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. He has now played in 882 games in his major league career and he is 876 for 3,168 (.277 avg, .720 OPS) with 481 runs scored, 35 homers, 249 RBIs and 266 stolen bases. Podsednik will likely play left field with the Royals setting off a domino effect. Josh Fields will likely shift to 1B with Billy Butler DHing. That means that the Royals are going to really try hard to move Alberto Callaspo before the season starts. I’m sure they will find some team that wants him the question is: Will the Royals get a good return for him or not? Regardless, I like the signing of Podsednik who should give the Royals a needed shot of speed in the line-up.

The Royals have signed 32-year old lefty starter/reliever John Parrish to a minor league deal. Parrish did not pitch last season in the U.S. He has pitched in 174 games (16 starts) in his major league career and he is 13-13 with 1 save, a 4.54 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. You can never have enough lefties around so I like this signing for the Royals.