The Royals have signed 28-year old righty starter/reliever Zach Miner to a minor league deal. Miner missed all of the 2010 season as he was rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery. He last pitched in 2009 with the Tigers working in 51 games (5 starts) in which he was 7-5 with 1 save, a 4.29 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Miner has now pitched in 157 games (35 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 25-20 with 1 save, a 4.24 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. I really like this pickup for the Royals as Miner is a decent pitcher when healthy. He can work either as a long man in the bullpen or start near the bottom of the rotation.

The Royals have dealt 27-year old righty starting pitcher Zack Greinke and 28-year old righty swinging shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt to the Brewers. In return, the Royals get 24-year old righty swinging shortstop Alcides Escobar, 24-year old CF Lorenzo Cain, 20-year old righty starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi and 23-year old righty reliever Jeremy Jeffress. Greinke pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Royals last season and he was 10-14 with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Greinke won the Cy Young Award in 2009 for the Royals. He finished up his career with the Royals by pitching in 210 games (169 starts) in his seven years with the team and he was 60-67 with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. This is going to create a HUGE hole at the top of the Royals’ rotation. Yuniesky Betancourt played in 151 games for the Royals last season and he was 144 of 556 (.259 avg, .692 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 16 homers, 78 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He played in 222 games in parts of two years with the Royals and he was 203 of 802 (.253 avg, .676 OPS) with 85 runs scored, 20 homers and 105 RBIs.

Alcides Escobar was the Brewers’ #1 prospect heading into last season according to Baseball America. He played in 145 games for the Brewers last season and he wass 119 of 506 (.235 avg, .614 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 4 homers, 41 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Escobar has now played in 192 games in parts of three years in the majors and he is 159 of 635 (.250 avg, .634 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 5 homers, 52 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Escobar will replace Betancourt as the Royals’ starting shortstop. Lorenzo Cain was the Brewers’ #8 rated prospect heading into the 2010 season according to Baseball America. Cain played in 43 games for the Brewers last season and he was 45 of 147 (.306 avg, .763 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 1 homer, 13 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Cain also played in 84 games in AA+AAA-ball last season and he was 105 of 331 (.317 avg, .834 OPS) with 58 runs scored, 3 homers, 27 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. Cain will likely be the Royals’ starting CF in 2011. Jeremy Jeffress was the Brewers’ #21 prospect heading into 2010 according to Baseball America. Jeffress pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last season and he was 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Jeffress also pitched in 24 games (0 starts) in A+AA-ball last season and he was 1-1 with 4 saves, 2.23 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. Jeffress only gave up 18 hits in 32 1/3 innings in the minors last season while whiffing 43 batters showing what kind of stuff he has. Jeffress will likely be pitching late in games for the Royals in 2011. Jake Odorizzi was the Brewers’ #9 prospect coming into the 2010 season according to Baseball America. Odorizzi pitched in 23 games (20 starts) in A-ball last season and he was 7-3 with 1 save, a 3.43 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He has now pitched in 46 games (34 starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 9-9 with 1 save, a 3.68 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Odorizzi has whiffed 197 batters in only 188 1/3 innings in the minors showing what kind of stuff he has.

The Royals saved a lot of money in this deal. Hopefully the guys they got from the Brewers will live up to their potential because they are always going to be known in K.C. as the guys they got back for Zack Greinke.

The Royals have designated 27-year old righty reliever Philip Humber for assignment. Humber pitched in 8 games (1 start) for the Royals last season and he was 2-1 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He has now pitched in 26 games (2 starts) in parts of five years in the majors and he is 2-1 with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. The Royals will likely be able to bring back Humber on a minor league deal if they want to.

(12/17/2010) - The Oakland A’s have claimed Humber off waivers.

The Royals have selected 22-year old righty starting pitcher Nathan Adcock away from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Rule 5 Draft. Adcock pitched in 27 games (26 starts) in A-ball last season and he was 11-7 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. He has now pitched in 102 games (90 starts) in his five years in the minors and he is 24-34 with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The Royals will likely look at Adcock as a long reliever next spring but he could surprise them and nab the #5 job in the starting rotation if he looks good.

The Royals have signed 26-year old switch hitting outfielder Melky Cabrera to a 1-year, $1.25 million bucks. Cabrera played in 147 games for the Braves last season and he was 117 of 458 (.255 avg, .671 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 4 homers, 42 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. He has now played in 716 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 635 of 2,381 (.267 avg, .707 OPS) with 300 runs scored, 40 homers, 270 RBIs and 51 stolen bases. This was a good signing for the Royals as the price was right to take a chance on Cabrera. He can handle all three spots in the outfield defensively and he’s a pesky hitter.