Royals sign Franklin Morales to minor league deal

The Royals made a last-minute addition to their spring training roster, announcing that they have signed lefty Franklin Morales to a minor-league contract. Morales will head to major-league camp with the team, and will likely compete for a bullpen spot.

Morales, 29, joins Ryan Madson and Joe Blanton as notable veterans who have signed minor-league deals with Kansas City this winter. He spent last season with the Rockies, struggling to a 6-9 record and 5.37 ERA in 38 appearances (22 starts) after being re-acquired from the Red Sox last offseason.

Morales has primarily been a reliever throughout his major-league career, but has started 47 of his 233 career games over eight major-league seasons. In that time with the Rockies (2007-2011, 2014) and Red Sox (2011-2013), he is the owner of a lifetime 19-27 record and 4.72 ERA.

The Royals currently have Brandon Finnegan and Tim Collins slated as the lefties in their bullpen, though Morales could break the roster if the team suffers injuries early in the season or if Finnegan transitions to being a starter.