KC Royals Sign Three to Minor League Contracts

Even though pitchers and catchers have reported, the KC Royals are not done making moves. Yesterday, the Royals signed Clint Barmes, Brian Duensing and Ross Ohlendorf to minor league contracts with an invitation to Spring Training.

Spring Training can be an interesting time of year, particularly when one looks at those players coming in as minor league invitees. Typically, there are grizzled minor league veterans hoping to finally get their opportunity to play at the major league level, and young prospects who are being exposed to a major league camp to further their development. Then, there are those players who are hoping to latch on to a major league club, players that, in some cases, one may have forgotten were still active.

Yesterday, the KC Royals signed three veterans in Clint Barmes, Brian Duensing and Ross Ohlendorf to minor league contracts, each with an invitation to Spring Training. Although none of these players is likely to serve as more than veteran depth in Omaha, mentoring the younger prospects, each player could be of interest.

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In Barmes, the Royals have a solid, glove first utility infielder to potentially push Christian Colon during Spring Training. Although he is about to turn 37 and may be slowing down, Barmes is two years away from being worth twelve defensive runs saved as the Pirates primary shortstop. His career .245/.294/.379 batting line may not be impressive, but Barmes did hit 23 home runs back in 2009 and has a bit of pop. With his ability to play either middle infield position, he is a solid dpeth piece.

Duensing may be familiar to Royals fans not just because of his time with the Twins, but because he was Alex Gordon‘s roommate at the University of Nebraska. A lefty reliever, Duensing has been exactly league average over his major league career, posting a 4.13 ERA for an ERA+ of exactly 100. Last season, in 55 games with Minnesota, Duensing posted a 4-1 record with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.377 WHiP. A pitcher who relies primarily on his sinker, change and fastball, Duensing is a groundball pitcher who will not miss many bats. Last year, he posted a 1.11 ground ball to fly ball rate, while striking out only 24 batters in 48.2 innings.

Ohlendorf has not spent much time in the majors since 2010, when his 1-11 record belied an essentially league average 4.07 ERA. Since 2011, Ohlendorf has appeared in 59 games, making 25 starts, while producing a 12-9 record. However, he has also posted a 5.77 ERA and 1.551 WHiP. About the only positive for Ohlendorf over those five seasons has been his solid 130 strikeouts in 167 innings.

Of these players, Duensing may have the best chance of cracking the Royals Opening Day roster. Should Danny Duffy be a part of the Royals rotation at the start of the season, Tim Collins could be the only lefty in the Royals bullpen. Given that Collins is coming off of Tommy John surgery, and had seen his production decline in the previous two seasons, having another veteran lefty like Duensing available could be beneficial.

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Even though expectations are minimal for these players, it may be possible that the KC Royals will have more than minor league depth waiting in Omaha. Given Dayton Moore’s track record over the past few years, at least one of these players may end up as a pleasant surprise.