Ciriaco to Triple-A after clearing waivers
Infielder accepts assignment after being designated on Saturday
KANSAS CITY -- Infielder Pedro Ciriaco has cleared waivers and has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Omaha, the Royals announced on Thursday.
Ciriaco was designated for assignment last Saturday when the Royals increased the pitching staff from 11 to 12. He was on Kansas City's roster as a backup infielder, primarily in case second baseman Omar Infante's cranky right elbow flared up.
When Infante had no problems, the Royals opted for another pitcher. Coincidentally, Infante was hit by a pitch last Monday night and was sidelined by jaw injuries, so the team had to call up Johnny Giavotella from Omaha to take over.
That took Kansas City back down to 11 pitchers. Meanwhile, the Royals are waiting to see how soon Infante might get back into the lineup. He was not expected to be put on the disabled list.
Kansas City's 40-man roster remains at 39 players.
In a Minor League deal, the Royals traded outfielder Gorkys Hernandez to the White Sox for cash.
Hernandez, 26, was in the Majors in 2012 with the Pirates and Marlins, batting .192 in 70 games. He won the Venezuelan Winter League batting title in '12 with a .367 average and played in the All-Star Futures Game three times.
In four games this year for Omaha, Hernandez was 3-for-13 (.231).