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KC Royals Add Ruben Sosa And Brooks Conrad

By John Viril

Jul 16, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Dominican Republic designated hitter Ruben Sosa (2) dives back to first base on a pick-off attempt in the first inning as United States first baseman Jacob Wilson (3) waits for the throw during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Ajax Pan Am Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 16, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Dominican Republic designated hitter Ruben Sosa (2) dives back to first base on a pick-off attempt in the first inning as United States first baseman Jacob Wilson (3) waits for the throw during the 2015 Pan Am Games at Ajax Pan Am Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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KC Royals general manager Dayton Moore continued a busy Christmas Eve by added two more players. Moore inked INF Brooks Conrad and OF/2B Ruben Sosa to minor-league deals on Saturday.

Contracts for Brooks Conrad and Ruben Sosa followed the earlier signings of pitchers Bobby Parnell and Jonathan Sanchez. That makes four stocking-stuffer players in one day. While all four appear to be little more than AAA depth. It’s possible that one or more of them can fill a role in Kansas City in 2017.

I guess Moore wanted to make sure that Kansas City Royals fans got a little something extra from the team for Christmas.

Between the two, Ruben Sosa is clearly the more interesting player. The 26-year-old Sosa spent four seasons in the Houston Astros system with mostly mediocre results until joining the Angels organization in 2015. From there, Sosa bounced to an independent league team in 2016 and the AAA Mexican League.

While Sosa hit well in independent league ball (.312/.418/.377), he raked in the Mexican League (.371/.458/.517). While Sosa has always been a patient hitter, he took his plate discipline to another level in 2016. Though only 5’7″ and 170 pounds, he brings good speed to the table. What’s more is that Sosa plays both the outfield and second base. If Sosa continues to hit in Spring Training, he’s got an outside chance at finding his way onto the Kansas City Royals roster in 2017.

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I’m not going to hold my breath. Anyone else remember Jose Martinez‘s hot season in Omaha in 2015? If you do, you know not to get too excited by big numbers from an over-aged prospect in AAA.

Meanwhile, I find myself completely puzzled by the Conrad signing. Just what use can the KC Royals have for a 36-year-old middle infielder who is a career .200/.271/.389 hitter over six big league seasons? Don’t the Royals have enough versatile infielder types between Christian Colon, Cheslor Cuthbert, and Whit Merrifield?

Next: Royals Sign Jonathan Sanchez And Bobby Parnell

Sure Conrad is minor-league depth. But, he seems pretty useless unless Dayton Moore is thinking about dealing one of the above three players.

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