NewsRoyals, Betemit agree on Minors deal
Infielder split time between White Sox and Triple-A in 2009
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
11/12/09 12:00 PM EST
KANSAS CITY -- The Royals on Thursday confirmed they have agreed to a Minor League contract for 2010 with infielder Wilson Betemit.Betemit has seven years of Major League experience, mostly as a backup player, but he logged just 20 games with the White Sox last season with a .200 average. He spent most of the year with Triple-A Charlotte and batted .241 with 11 homers and 49 RBIs.
A switch-hitter, Betemit gives the Royals another new infielder to add to second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman Josh Fields, obtained from the White Sox last Friday in a trade for infielder-outfielder Mark Teahen.
"His Major League statistics are solid," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "I think he's got like a .324 on-base percentage and he's a switch-hitter and can play multiple positions. I don't know where he'll fit in, but it's depth for the system and he'll get a chance to compete for a job in Spring Training."
Betemit, 28, has played all four infield positions in the Majors with the Braves, Dodgers, Yankees and White Sox, primarily at third base. He also has appeared in the outfield. In 516 big league games, his career average is .258 with 42 homers and 154 RBIs.
Signed originally by Atlanta from the Dominican Republic in 1996, he has a history with Moore, a long-time Braves official. Betemit's best year came with the Braves in 2005 when he batted .305 in 115 games.
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
