Veteran catcher Brayan Pena and right-hander Chris Volstad have opted for free agency, declining their minor-league assignments from the Royals, the team has announced:

#Royals announce RHP Volstad & C Pena were outrighted to minors & elected free agency. Both were designated for assignment on 11/20.

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) November 28, 2012

Pena, 30, served as Kansas City's back-up catcher the past four seasons, but was dropped off the roster to make room for new acquisition Brett Hayes. The switch-hitting backstop appeared in 68 games for the Royals in 2012, hitting .236/.262/.321 with a pair of home runs.

The 26-year-old Volstad joined the Royals' organization in late October on a waiver claim from the Chicago Cubs. The tall right-hander was infamous for his two-season "losing streak," in which he went 24 consecutive starts (starting July 2011) without recording a win, finally defeating the Rockies 5-0 in late August. Overall, Volstad posted a 6.21 ERA in 21 starts for the Cubs, garnering two more wins in the process.