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The Royals have reached a minor-league deal with catcher Brayan Pena, according to FOX’s Ken Rosenthal.
Pena, who turned 35 last month, will serve as the third catcher for Kansas City behind Salvador Perez and Drew Butera. While his chances to make the team out of spring training appear low at this point, the deal likely includes an opt-out clause if he performs well in March.
Pena is the latest free-agent addition for a busy Royals’ club that has made two big splashes in Brandon Moss and Jason Hammel over the last two weeks. Kansas City’s offseason has been an unusual one, as the club dealt key starters Jarrod Dyson and Wade Davis while adding Moss, Hammel, Nate Karns and Jorge Soler while signing lefty Danny Duffy to a five-year extension.
Pena spent last year with the Cardinals, appearing in just nine games and hitting .154/.214/.231. He hit .251/.291/.355 with 12 homers in 264 games for the Royals from 2009 to 2012.