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The Kansas City Royals have released outfielder Xavier Nady and left-handed reliever George Sherrill but hope to re-sign them in the coming days, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.
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Both veterans are Article XX(B) free agents, meaning that the Royals would have had to pay each a retention fee of $100k if they were not released from their contracts by Tuesday. Now that they have been released, Kansas City has the freedom to negotiate whatever type of deal they want with either player without worrying about special fees.
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The veteran outfielder has since signed a new minor-league pact with the Mariners.
The downside of the move for the Royals is that the pair could also choose to sign a new contract with another team if they so desire.
Nady, 34, was signed by KC in the wake of the Wil Myers trade to give the club a veteran corner-outfield option in the event that Jeff Francoeur replicates his terrible 2012 season.
Nady had a three-year stretch of solid numbers at the plate from 2006 to 2008 -- hitting .289/.343/.481 with 62 home runs -- but has been unable to regain his prowess in the box since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2009. The veteran hit just .184/.253/.316 in 166 plate appearances for the Nationals and Giants last season.
Sherrill, soon to be 36, is still on the mend from a Tommy John operation of his own, and isn't expected to take the hill until at least May. The veteran southpaw made just two appearances with the Mariners last year before going under the knife, and has thrown just 73⅔ innings in the last three year combined. Sherrill owns a career 3.77 ERA and 8.9 K/9 rate in 324⅓ innings over parts of nine MLB seasons.
