Twins sign Kyle Davies

The Minnesota Twins have brought a familiar face back into the AL Central. Former Royals right-hander Kyle Davies has signed a minor-league deal with the club, reports Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.

Davies, still just 29, was one of the first former Braves' farmhands that Dayton Moore brought to Kansas City. The right-hander joined the Royals at the 2007 trade deadline and spent the next four-plus seasons as a fixture in the club's rotation.

A fourth-round draft pick in 2001 and rated as a top 100 prospect prior to the 2005 season, Davies was unfortunately never able to have much success at the big-league level. The right-hander did put up a 4.06 ERA in 21 starts for KC in 2008, but he ended up posting a 5.34 ERA and 4.1 BB/9 rate over 99 starts and 531 innings overall for the club.

Davies was eventually released in August 2011, then briefly picked up by the Blue Jays later the same month. He was non-tendered at end of the season, however, and did not play professionally last year.

Davies' contract with the Twins will not include an invite to big-league camp, and his chances of making an appearance at Target Field this year seem rather scant given his track record.