KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals have signed former All-Star pitcher Brad Penny and veteran reliever Guillermo Mota to minor league contracts that include invitations to spring training.
The team announced the moves Wednesday. Pitchers and catchers report to camp on Feb. 14 in Surprise, Ariz.
The 35-year-old Penny, whose best years came with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is trying to resurrect his career after missing last season to rest his pitching shoulder. Penny was 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA in 2012 with the San Francisco Giants.
Mota has been with seven clubs, most recently the Giants. The right-hander is 39-45 with a 3.94 ERA over 14 seasons. He is coming off a 100-game suspension for a second positive drug test. His agent says it was for clenbuterol found in children's cough syrup.
The Royals also agreed to terms Thursday with left-hander Tim Collins on a one-year contract to avoid arbitration. Collins will make $1,362,500 this season, a substantial increase from the $534,500 he earned last season, when he was 3-6 with a 3.54 ERA in 66 appearances.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
