Royals sign veteran right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton to minor league deal

The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has signed free agent right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton to a minor league contract, with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.

Blanton, 34, last pitched in the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Angels during the 2013 season, making 28 appearances, including 20 starts. The nine-year veteran is 85-89 in his big league career with a 4.51 ERA with 1086 strikeouts in 1567.1 innings. He recorded 16 wins for the Oakland A's in 2006, which tied for eighth in the A.L., while he tied for the league-lead in starts (34) the following season. The right-hander was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies teams that won the World Championship in 2008 and were National League champs in 2009. He is 2-0 with a 4.02 ERA (18 ER in 40.1 IP) with 13 walks and 33 strikeouts in 10 career postseason outings.

Royals pitchers and catchers will report to Surprise for Spring Training next Thursday (February 19), with their first workouts scheduled for Friday, February 20. The remainder of the squad will report on Tuesday, February 24 and begin workouts for the 2015 campaign on Wednesday, February 25.