http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/new...=pr_kc&c_id=kc

Royals Press Release

2/1/2014 11:52 A.M. ET

Royals sign veteran left-handed pitcher Bruce Chen




The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has signed left-handed pitcher Bruce Chen to a one-year contract for the 2014 season, with a mutual option for 2015. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. In a corresponding roster move, infielder Emilio Bonifacio was designated for assignment.

Chen, 36, completed his fifth season with the Royals in 2013, going 9-4 with a 3.27 ERA (44 ER in 121.0 IP) in 34 appearances (15 starts). The veteran southpaw worked out of the bullpen worked out of the bullpen the first three months of the season, before earning a spot in the rotation on July 12. He posted a 5-0 mark and a 1.62 ERA (13 ER in 72.1 IP) from the start of the year to August 17. Chen held right-handed hitters to a .224 average (67-for-299), which was the third-lowest season total by a left-handed hurler in club history, trailing only Vida Blue (.220 in 1982) and Larry Gura (.222 in 1981).

Chen will enter his 16th Major League season in 2014 with Kansas City being his 10th stop. He has also pitched for Atlanta (1998-2000), Philadelphia (2000-01), the Mets (2001-02), Montreal (2002), Cincinnati (2002), Houston (2003), Boston (2003), Baltimore (2004-06) and Texas (2007). The lefty is 80-76 in 385 big league outings (218 starts). He needs three more wins to pass Mariano Rivera (82) for the most Major League wins by a pitcher born in Panama.

Bonifacio, 28, was traded to the Royals on August 14 of last season, batting .285 (45-for-158) with 16 stolen bases in 42 games with Kansas City.

Odd move to get rid of bono now. This better be more of a Bono wants to start only move but reeks of $$$ move

Who's the utility now? Not as much depth now

This is kind of a WTF move. Don't understand it much. Must have something to do with $ or they have something in the works.

Don't understand this move.

I as well don't understand this move. Valencia is a utility but only against lefties does he make sense to be in the lineup. I like Ebono for another utility option in case Moose/Esky tank. What am I missing here?

This isn't a strange move; it's a ****ing stupid one.

Who is our backup middle infielder now? Valencia can't play shortstop or 2B. I don't get this, unless we're working out a trade.

Sorry for the ignorance but does DFA mean he can't come back? Just seems strange that they would be cutting him this early.

Surely they jest if they think Gio is still a viable option!?

DFA means he's off our 40-man roster, and we must do one of 3 things within 10 days:

1) Put him on waivers, and if he clears it we can send him to the minors. There's no chance he clears waivers.

2) Trade him

3) Release him

edit: since he has more than 5 years of service, he can't be sent to the minors without his consent, so #1 is not really an option. But as I said, there's no chance he clears waivers anyway. So, we are either trading him or cutting him.

Thank you for the info. A bit baffling at this point.

That's weird

another move about to happen?

They like Ciriaco

he doesn't play SS. I guess Infante could move over for says when Escobar needs a break, but I doubt we're going to carry Gio just to backup Infante.