Royals sign pitchers Doug Waechter, Horacio Ramirez

The Royals on Thursday signed right-handed pitcher Doug Waechter as a middle reliever and left-hander Horacio Ramirez as a starter. Both free agents were given one-year contracts.

Waechter, 27, gives the Royals a middle-innings reliever who also could make a spot start. Last season for the Florida Marlins, he was 4-2 with a 3.69 ERA in 48 games, all in relief.  He spent 19 days on the disabled list with a shoulder problem.

A third-round selection of Tampa Bay in 1999, Waechter had a career mark of 18-27 in parts of five seasons with the Rays and the Marlins. In 108 games, half of them starts, he has a 5.30 ERA.
 
Ramirez, 29, was released last spring by the Seattle Mariners and signed a Minor League contract with the Royals. Called up later, he pitched in 15 games for the Royals with a 2.59 ERA and 1-1 record. On Aug. 9, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Minor League outfielder Paulo Orlando. He struggled with the White Sox, going 0-3 with a 7.62 ERA in 17 relief outings.

The Royals also completed the Nov. 24 trade that sent left-hander Tyler Lumsden to Houston, receiving Minor League outfielder Jordan Parraz from the Astros.

--Dick Kaegel.