Royals Agree to Terms with Joba Chamberlain, Wandy Rodriguez on Minor League Deals

The Kansas City Royals announced that the club has signed free agent left-handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez and right-handed pitcher Joba Chamberlain on minor league contracts. Both pitchers will report to Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. 

Rodriguez, 36, opened the year with the Texas Rangers, going 6-4 with a 4.90 ERA in 15 starts (17 appearances) with 72 strikeouts in 86.1 innings. He was released by the Rangers on August 4. The veteran lefty has a career mark of 97-98 with a 4.10 ERA in 263 starts (275) outings. He enjoyed his best seasons with the Houston Astros (2005-12), which included going 14-12 with a 3.02 ERA during the 2009 season, when he also recorded a career-high 193 strikeouts.

Chamberlain, 29, pitched for the Detroit Tigers at the Major League level this season, posting a 4.09 ERA and a 0-2 record in 30 relief outings. After being released by Detroit on July 10, he signed a minor league deal with Toronto, but never appeared in a big league game with the Blue Jays, before being released on Friday. A Lincoln, Neb., native, Chamberlain has pitched in parts of nine seasons in the big leagues, sporting a 25-21 record and a 3.82 ERA in 359 career appearances (43 starts).