Royals outfielder Jason Bourgeois has declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Omaha and instead elected free agency, the team announced Monday.
Bourgeois was designated for assignment on Nov. 2.
The Royals acquired Bourgeois, 30, along with Humberto Quintero in a trade with the Houston Astros in March. Bourgeois hit .258/.303/.323 with five stolen bases in 66 plate appearances with the Royals in 2012.
In 2011 in his last season with the Astros, Bourgeois hit .294/.323/.357 with 31 stolen bases in just 252 plate appearances. He has also played briefly with the White Sox and Brewers.
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