He’s also a left-handed pitcher, a commodity during the playoff push.

And the Royals let him go for nothing. The Giants put in a waiver claim and the Royals didn’t seek out a trade. It’s not clear if they passed him through waivers and simply let the Giants have him or if they made some mistake in the waiver process that allowed him to be claimed for nothing, but what is clear is that he’s now a San Francisco Giant.

There were questions about his attitude before the year, and part of why he was let go by the Twins, but even with that, to get nothing for him is confusing. It would also be odd considering that they could have traded him to anybody a week ago without any waiver complications involved. Surely there would have been a taker, right? If someone was interested enough to claim him, they’d likely be interested enough to give cash or a player to be named later, at least, I’d imagine.

Francisley Bueno will take his spot in the bullpen. He’s thrown 4.2 innings for Kansas City this year with a 3.86 ERA.

So long, Humberto. (Photo Credit: Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE)

The Royals calmed some angry voices today by announcing that they have designated catcher Humberto Quintero for assignment. Yes, that .232/.257/.341 line couldn’t save him, and his defense was, well, not all it was cracked up to be, to put it lightly. With “Savior” Salvador Perez back in Royal blue, the team was comfortable letting one of its three catchers go. As Brayan Pena is a team staple at this point, Quintero exited stage right.

So, we all got what we wanted and hoped for, and now the team has an opening, to be filled by outfielder Jason Bourgeois. Bourgeois spent some time in Kansas City earlier in the year and brings in a .294/.323/.357 line from his MLB time last season and a .214/.267/.286 line from 15 plate appearances with the Royals earlier this year. While at Omaha, Bourgeois hit .205/.262/.269 in 168 plate appearances. It’s not as if he’s a home run king or likely to help much beyond what the Royals already have in the lineup, but he’s a warm body that can fill space.

On the other side of the ball, the Royals also optioned 31-year old left-handed pitcher Francisley Bueno to Omaha in exchange for lefty Everett Teaford, who will see his second stint in Kansas City this year as the pitching merry-go-round continues to whirl. Bueno only pitched two innings in his time as a Royal, allowing one run and three hits. Earlier in the season, Teaford threw 11 innings, allowed seven runs and two home runs, walked seven, and struck out four. However, he blazed through lineups in Omaha, pitching 24 innings and allowing four total runs with eight walks and 25 strikeouts. It seems like it’s time for Teaford to return to Kansas City, as AAA batters are offering little challenge.

Basically, the Royals made two logical moves on one day. Quintero wasn’t helping anything and the team doesn’t need three catchers on its 25-man roster. It’s always good to have five outfielders if necessary, even if Bourgeois doesn’t add much to the team.

Still, that raises an interesting question. If Bourgeois is in Kansas City, why couldn’t Wil Myers be there instead? Neither Jarrod Dyson nor Mitch Maier pose much of a threat to taking his playing time, but it’s possible the Royals are waiting for a corner outfield spot to open. Nonetheless, this could be the precursor to a change that sees Myers wearing Royal blue. Because he’s not currently on the 40-man roster, a player would have to be removed, and that could well be Quintero. Once Quintero is off the roster, there will be a hole in the 40-man and the Royals don’t have to worry about removing another player they might actually want to keep. Enter Wil Myers.

Keep an eye on the announcements in the near future. We may see Myers in Kansas City before we know it.

Danny Duffy impressed last year as a non-roster invitee and was soon in the big leagues. Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

The Royals released their list of spring training non-roster invitees last week, and as usual the list is filled equally with promising young prospects and replacement level bargains. Many won’t make an impact on the 2012 Royals, but nonetheless it is an opportunity to impress the front office brass. A strong showing as a non-roster invitee can put a top prospect on the fast track.

Non-roster invitees are intriguing because they are all upside. Even established major leaguers who find themselves signed as non-roster invitees are promised nothing but an opportunity. There is nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

For instance, the Royals brought in 23 non-roster invitees in 2011, and only Tim Collins and Louis Coleman made the opening day roster. But they weren’t the only players who made an impression.

Fellow non-roster invitees Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Danny Duffy, Salvador Perez, Johnny Giavotella, and Luis Mendoza eventually played games for the Royals last year. Several other prospects, including Mike Montgomery, impressed as well.

So, you must be thinking, which non-roster invitees have the best chance to make an impact in 2012? How thoughtful of you to ask. I’ve put together my list, ranking each invitee from most to least likely to have an MLB impact this year. I’ll also give percentage odds for each player, in order to show which guys have earned the greatest share of my confidence in their ability to help this year’s Kansas City Royals.

What could be more scintillating than that?

Mike Montgomery – 85%

I’ve already given my thoughts on Montgomery here, so I’ll try to keep this short and sweet. Not only do I think the Royals need Montgomery to produce for the big league club this year, but I also think he almost surely will impress. I expect Montgomery to follow Danny Duffy’s 2011 trajectory and earn a major-league call-up sometime in May. Montgomery simply doesn’t need another full season in Omaha, and he possesses superior raw stuff to Duffy. It’s also important to remember that Duffy’s leapfrog of Montgomery last season was a notable shock. Montgomery remains the better prospect with the better stuff, and I think he’ll have a campaign that’s slightly better than Duffy’s 2011. And this is coming from a guy who thought Duffy positively impressed last season. Montgomery is all set to be a gem.

Kevin Kouzmanoff – 60%

This is where the meaning of the word ‘impact’ becomes skewed a bit. I have no delusions of grandeur regarding Kouzmanoff. Although once a promising prospect, Kouz is essentially a replacement level player at this point (career .300 OBP). At the same time I think he has a fighter’s chance to make the 25 man roster (as a backup to Mike Moustakas at third base), and he very well may be the only person on this list who is able to make that claim.

In order to have an impact, a player actually has to suit up for the team. Whether through an inspired spring performance, injury, or inconsistency, I’m 60% confident that Kouzmanoff will play in 40 or more games for the Royals this season. If that becomes the case, then I am 95% confident that I will inevitably unleash a drunken, expletive-laden tirade against Kouzmanoff this summer when he is mired in a 0-21 spell and sporting a .285 OBP.

Wil Myers – 39%

Ok, hear me out here. Alex Gordon, Jeff Francouer, and Lorenzo Cain will be the starting outfield for the opening day Royals, barring injury. The next best available options appear to be Mitch Maier, Jarrod Dyson, and David Lough.  Each of those guys has their merits, but none of them are Wil Myers.

Here’s a question for you: why can’t Myers be this year’s version of Eric Hosmer? Myers is 21 years old, or to put it a different way, the same age Hosmer was at the beginning of last season. Myers also played last season at Northwest Arkansas, the same level Hosmer reached in 2010 before being placed on the fast track.

Wil Myers played in the Futures game last year, and could potentially play for the Royals this year. Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Like Hosmer in 2010, Myers dominated in the subsequent Arizona Fall League. Sure, his numbers don’t stack up with Hosmer’s Double-A figures. But Myers had some extenuating circumstances. He suffered a nasty knee injury after a fluky spill at the beginning of the season, and struggled to regain his form afterwards. But like Hosmer, the physical tools are still there: the quick bat, the plate discipline, and the rocket arm have not gone anywhere. Plus, Myers has already played twice as many games at Double-A as Hosmer did. The Royals moved Myers from catcher so that he could progress quickly through the system, and with a strong spring, I think they’ll give him the same chance Hosmer did to shoot through the system like a meteor. Furthermore, after last season, Myers has something to prove. I expect to see him with the Royals by the end of the season, even if it’s just for a cup of coffee.

Max Ramirez – 29%

Here’s a guy who I have had trouble deciding on. He should probably be placed further down this list, since he is ostensibly behind Salvador Perez, Brayan Pena, and Manny Pina on the depth chart. But he is a career .867 OPS hitter in the minor leagues. And since he’s played 646 games in the minors over eight seasons, I’d venture to say that his offensive numbers aren’t a mirage built on small sample size. That .867 OPS is 100 points better than Pena’s minor league total, and 200 points over what Pina has produced thus far.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, I would not be overly shocked if the Royals cut bait with Pena and Ramirez emerges as Perez’ backup this season. Keep in mind that Perez is young and fresh, and may not need more than 30 games off behind the dish this season. Wouldn’t it be nice to finally have some pop and patience at the catcher position? Even if Ramirez is utilized primarily as a pinch hitter, I see some value there. Oh, and while writing this piece, I learned that Ramirez’ given first name is Maximiliano. So there’s also that to inspire confidence.

Irving Falu – 26%

I know what the most cynical and sarcastic of fans will say here: “whenever you can get a 28 year old career minor leaguer with a .696 career OPS into the lineup you’ve got to seize the opportunity.” I know that’s what you’re thinking because it was exactly what I first thought upon seeing Falu’s name among the non-roster invitees. But then I realized that the primary backup infielders will probably be some combination of Kouzmanoff, Yuniesky Betancourt, and Chris Getz, and I suddenly began reconsidering Falu’s candidacy in earnest. And there are some things to like about Falu.

For instance, did you know that he’s recorded more walks than strikeouts during his minor league career? Or that he has logged games at all three outfield spots, second base, shortstop, and third base? Or that 2011 was his best statistical season? I’m not saying he’s a lock to contribute or anything, but I think assuming he’s still with the organization, that he’ll be the first middle infielder recalled if there is an injury. If that’s not a ringing endorsement then I don’t know what is.

Chris Dwyer – 25%

Hey, I’m not saying I’m banking on it, but I would not be shocked to see Dwyer make a couple of starts for the Royals in 2012. After pitching four games for Northwest Arkansas in 2010, Dwyer remained in Double-A for the entirety of 2011. Although he struggled during the first half, Dwyer turned it on in the second half and actually out-produced highly touted prospect Jake Odorizzi while both were toiling for Northwest Arkansas. Dwyer also has more strikeouts than walks in his career, so the stuff is there. If the front office believes that the second half Dwyer is the real version, then he could be a fast riser this season.

Zach Miner – 20%

Sure he doesn’t strike out anybody, and he is still working his way back from a major injury in 2010. I get that. But looking at Miner with squinted eyes, I also see that Miner has a 25-20 career record in the major leagues to accompany his 4.24 cumulative ERA. Once you see the other pitchers on this list, and their career major league experience, you’ll see why Miner is so high up this list.

Will Smith – 16%

Smith would probably be above Dwyer on this list if my intuition hadn’t led me to believe Dwyer will have a breakout season. Smith, though, did plenty well for himself at Northwest Arkansas in 2011. Smith put up a 13-9 record and a 3.85 ERA in a full season of Double-A, and was probably the best pitcher on NWA’s staff. Also going for Smith is the fact that he’s already pitched (albeit poorly) in Triple-A while in the Angels system. There’s no reason that Smith should go back to Northwest Arkansas next year, which means that he will be among the pitchers in Omaha with the best chance to get a late season or injury-induced call-up. I’d say that’s makes him about a 16% chance to make an impact on the big league club.

Jake Odorizzi – 7%

Odorizzi is clearly a year away, and that is not a bad thing. He got roughed up a little bit in his introduction to Double-A last year after torching High-A Wilmington. Odorizzi won’t turn 22 until March, so another season spent between Northwest Arkansas and Omaha could still be constructive for one of the organization’s top young prospects. There is still an outside chance that

Tony Abreu – 6%

I’m just not seeing it with Abreu. Give me Falu every day of the week. Abreu can’t hit and doesn’t walk. He owns a career .279 OBP. He should be purely minor league filler. Major league service time alone places him above the other names on this list.

Greg Golson – 5%

The best thing Golson has going for him is his versatility. He’s played all three outfield positions in the minors and possesses a enough speed to make him dangerous on the base paths. Unfortunately, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Golson has been struck out a whopping 941 times in his minor league career, against just 207 walks. Myers, Jarrod Dyson, and David Lough are simply better players than Golson and will get any call-up before him.

Cody Clark, Paulo Orlando, Tommy Hottovy, Francisley Bueno Julio Rodriguez – 0.00%

None of these guys has a chance to crack the big league roster in 2012. Frankly, their inclusion among the non-roster invitees seems a bit dubious. I’m not even going to sugarcoat it: when I saw Francisley Bueno’s name mentioned among the camp invites, I had no idea who he was. None at all. What is he doing at major league camp?

But I guess that’s the nature of non-roster invitees. There are no expectations. If Dayton Moore wants to bring in a guy whose name translates to “good”, then by all means he should be empowered to do so. And if Bueno somehow turns into Ricky Vaughn, then I will happily eat crow.

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After some time without much news, the Royals announced that they’ve signed four players to minor league deals: catcher Max Ramirez, RHP Juan Gutierrez, LHP Francisley Bueno, and outfielder Greg Golson.

Ramirez, 27, has played in 45 games for the Texas Rangers, batting .217/.343/.357 in 140 plate appearances. He arrived to Texas in a time when Taylor Teagarden and Jarrod Saltalamacchia were part of what was supposed to be the future of Ranger backstops, which never occurred. Ramirez has spent most of his time at AAA, where he’s hit .262/.338/.405 for his career. He should give the Royals minor league teams depth behind the plate. His full first name is Maximiliano, so that’s fun.

Gutierrez, 28, has been a reliever in the majors with the Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks, compiling a 4.79 ERA over 167.1 innings since 2007. He can strike out big numbers, but also gives up a considerable number of hits. He was released by the Diamondbacks back in mid-October. Gutierrez figures to be insurance should the Royals have injuries or poor performances in their bullpen.

Bueno, 30, pitched 2.1 innings for the Atlanta Braves back in 2008, giving up two runs on five hits. Otherwise, he’s mostly pitched at AAA outside of a nine-game stint with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball League in 2010. Bueno has been used both as a starter and a reliever and has a 4.21 ERA in 286.1 innings at AAA. He should be a starter and spot-reliever for Omaha and used as a reliever or spot-starter for the Royals if absolutely necessary.

Golson, 26, is probably the most interesting of the group. He’s spent time in the majors with the Phillies, Rangers, and Yankees over the past four seasons, though it’s mostly been for defensive replacements. He has a line of .195/.214/.244 in 42 plate appearances over 40 games and is described as a “toolsy” guy that’s never quite gotten it all together. Golson’s hit .261/.313/.380 in AAA for his career and would make a mean outfield defense with Jarrod Dyson in Omaha. It’s a good flyer to take on a guy that’s still before his peak.

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