The Royals announced today that they have designated utilityman Chris Owings for assignment. He’ll be replaced on the active and 40-man rosters by third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert, whose contract was selected.
Owings has just not found a groove in Kansas City since signing a $3MM deal over the offseason. The club will remain on the hook for the balance, less any pro-rated league-minimum earnings he’s able to record with another organization. Because he has more than five years of MLB service, Owings can reject an outright assignment and still keep all he’s owed.
The Royals obviously hoped for more out of Owings, who they targeted after he was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks. He’s striking out at an untenable 37.9% clip despite non-existent power. The resulting .133/.193/.222 slash line equates to an awful 7 wRC+.
With Owings departing, the Royals will welcome back a familiar face that failed to stick around previously. The 26-year-old Cuthbert has not produced much at all in his prior major-league opportunities, with a .252/.303/.378 slash over 830 plate appearances. He’s off to a nice start to the year at Triple-A, turning in .310/.370/.528 batting line and eight long balls across 219 trips to the dish.
zcoughlin2 2
As a Royals fan, never seeing Owings play in a Royals uniform again is the best news I’ve heard all day.
jpeezy43
He was absolutely horrible and we played him almost every day
RoyalsFanAmongWolves
I’m glad we DFed owings, but I’d have chosen the contract of a guy like Mejia or arteaga because at least they have minor league options
bleacherbum
Much rather of gambled on this dude for 3 million a year, than Kinsler at 2 years/8 million.
The Padres are stuck with the same player the Royals just DFA’d today.
RoyalsFanAmongWolves
Huh? We didn’t sign kinsler? Or you mean batting average wise?
bleacherbum
Batting average wise, as a Padre fan we are essentially stuck with the same player because we have him that 2nd year.
Ugh
FullMontilla
Sign him up Farhan!!…Seriously!!
bigowe
Agreed
BaseballBrian
Bring back Mark Teahen
bleacherbum
While you’re at it, give me some Mark Grudzielanek.
Ketch
And Buddy Biancalana!
FullMontilla
How about Willie Mays Aikens!
And I know he was a pitcher but I just want to add Moe Drabowsky – one of my all-time fav baseball player names
mikevm3
Yeah, Drabowsky’s a legendary prankster. Also, while we’re at it, bring back Greg Pryor and Jamie Quirk too.
Tigernut2000
At .252 Cuthbert would be among the Tigers’ top hitters.
bigun
Owings = Yuni = Getz = Bloomquist = Esky. In the Dayton Moore era, we always have one. And Ned insists on running them out there until it is beyond ridiculous. I will never understand….