The Royals have released Xavier Nady and George Sherrill, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). Both players signed minor league deals with Kansas City this offseason, and the organization hopes to re-sign both.
Both Nady and Sherrill were Article XX(B) free agents, meaning the Royals would have had to pay each player a $100K retention bonus if they remained within the organization by noon ET tomorrow. Instead, general manager Dayton Moore will have the opportunity to work out new deals with the pair, but they're both free to explore options with other teams.
Nady, 34, batted .184/.253/.316 between the Nationals and Giants last season. From 2006-09, Nady posted a strong .289/.342/.480 batting line in 410 games for the Mets, Pirates and Yankees. However, his 2009 campaign was cut short when he needed Tommy John surgery, and he's never regained his form at the plate. Since returning from the injury, he's batted .237/.288/.347 in 260 games between four organizations.
Sherrill, who turns 36 in a few weeks, appeared in just two games for the Mariners last season before a torn UCL in his left elbow led to Tommy John surgery. He had yet to appear in a Spring Training game for the Royals, as his surgery didn't take place until May of last year. Sherrill has a 3.77 ERA, 8.9 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 in 324 1/3 Major League innings between the Mariners, Dodgers, Orioles and Braves.
