The Kansas City Royals have agreed to a
one-year deal with outfielder Rick Ankiel.
The Kansas City Star reports that the pact is believed to be worth $3.25
million with a second-year mutual option worth $6 million for the former
Cardinal.
One season after a career year that saw him hit 25 home runs and drive in 71
runs, Ankiel struggled through a shoulder injury for most of 2009 and batted
just .231 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI.
Ankiel, though, should help a Royals offense that last season finished 13th of
14 teams in the American League with 144 home runs and 12th with a .405
slugging percentage.
The 30-year-old began his big league career as a left-handed pitcher for the
Cardinals and was the runner up for the National League Rookie of the Year in
2000. However, the wheels came off for him in the 2000 postseason, when he
walked four and threw five wild pitches in the third inning of Game 1 of the
National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves before struggling
again in a start against the Mets in the NLCS.
Knee and elbow injuries shortly thereafter led to his decision to abandon
pitching. Surprisingly, he returned to the Cardinals as an outfielder and made
his debut for St. Louis in the field towards the end of the 2007 campaign.
For his career, the former pitcher is a .251 hitter and has knocked 49 home
runs to go along with 157 RBI in 344 games.
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