KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yuniesky Betancourt is back with the Kansas City Royals after agreeing to a one-year contract.
The deal was announced Tuesday.
Betancourt, who played for the Royals from 2009-10, started at shortstop for the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers last season, batting .252 with 13 homers and 68 RBIs. Kansas City has Alcides Escobar at shortstop, so Betancourt will provide versatility and experience off the bench. He will back up Escobar while providing a right-handed bat behind Mike Moustakas at third base.
Betancourt was part of the trade that sent pitcher Zack Greinke from the Royals to the Brewers for Escobar, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and right-handed pitchers Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi.
Milwaukee declined a $6 million option on Betancourt for next season.
The Royals signed reliever Jose Mijares to a 1-year contract, giving manager Ned Yost another left-handed option late in games.
The team announced the deal Wednesday. Terms were not disclosed.
Mijares went 3-6 with a 3.16 ERA in 186 appearances since making his debut for the Twins in 2008, but he was just 0-2 with a 4.59 ERA in 58 games last season.
Mijares is currently 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in eight outings for Tigres de Aragua in the Venezuelan Winter League, with seven strikeout and no walks.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore envisions Mijares as a situational lefty. Mijares fills out the Royals’ 40-man roster.