The Royals announced the signings of three major-league veterans to minor-league contracts with spring training invitations Tuesday:
- George Sherrill, a left-handed reliever who spent most of 2012 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The 35-year-old owns a 3.77 ERA in nine seasons and posted a sharp 3.00 ERA (129 ERA+) in 2011 with Atlanta.
- Dan Wheeler, a right-handed reliever with a 3.98 ERA in 13 major league seasons. The 35-year-old pitched in 12 games last season for Cleveland, posting an 8.76 ERA. His most successful stretch came from 2008-2010 with Tampa Bay, where he mustered a 3.24 ERA (132 ERA+) and 0.975 WHIP in 172.1 innings.
- Willy Taveras, a right-handed outfielder who last appeared in the major leagues in 2010 with Washington. The 30-year-old has 195 career steals -- including a league-leading 68 in 2008 -- and a .274/.320/.327 (68 OPS+) career line.
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