The Royals signed Willy Taveras to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training, MLB.com's Evan Drellich reports (via Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com on Twitter). The 30-year-old outfielder last played for an MLB team in 2010.
Taveras, a client of Burton Rocks LTD, explained in September that he intends to play at the MLB level again. "I just need a chance to get back in baseball," he told Drellich. Taveras has a .274/.320/.327 batting line at the MLB level with 195 career stolen bases. The right-handed hitter has played for the Astros, Rockies, Nationals and Reds in his seven MLB seasons. He played on two NL pennant winners: the 2005 Astros and the 2007 Rockies.
