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The Royals have signed reliever Seth Maness to a minor-league deal with a spring training invite, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Maness, 28, threw for more than 16 clubs during a showcase last week, with the Cubs, Nationals, Brewers, Reds, Indians, Orioles, Twins and Astros among the teams to give him a look. The righty is currently rehabbing from an elbow injury that led to him deciding to have an experimental operation called “primary repair” surgery, which serves as a potential alternative to Tommy John surgery and has a quicker rehab process. Goold wrote about that process in detail in January.
Maness is already throwing off a mound, meaning he could prove useful to the Royals in the majors early this season. He was non-tendered by the Cardinals due to his health issues, but posted an effective 3.41 ERA and 4.5 K/9 in 31.2 innings out of St. Louis’ bullpen last year.
Maness was previously with the Cardinals for four seasons, posting a career 3.19 ERA, 5.8 K/9 and 2.0 K/BB in 244 appearances since breaking into the majors in 2013.