Around the Majors: Royals sign Lima

1) The Royals signed free agent P Jose Lima to a 1 year, $2.5 million contract and signed INF Luis Ugueto to a minor league contract.

After 7.77 ERA/-27 RSAA and 4.91 ERA/2 RSAA seasons, Lima had a 4.07 ERA/1 RSAA in 24 starts (36 games) with the Dodgers. He has a 5.00 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.48, and -76 RSAA in 312 games.

Lima ranks 8th on the all time list for worst HR vs. the league average–

HOMERUNS                        DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1    Ferguson Jenkins           -111      484      373   
T2   Pedro Ramos                 -83      315      232   
T2   Catfish Hunter              -83      374      291   
4    Scott Sanderson             -77      297      220   
5    Denny McLain                -75      242      167   
6    Tom Browning                -73      236      163   
7    Brian Anderson              -71      257      186   
8    Jose Lima                   -64      233      169   
9    George Blaeholder           -62      173      111   
10   Rick Helling                -61      239      178   

Ugueto had -2 RCAA/.612 OPS in 74 games with the 2002-03 Mariners.

2) On Friday, Johnny Oates died at the age of 58.

Oates had a .622 career OPS, compared to his league average of .714, and -64 RCAA in 593 games with 5 teams from 1970-81 (except 1971). He also managed the Orioles from 1991-94 and the 1995-2001 Rangers.

3) According to the Beaver County Times, the Pirates are a potential 3rd team for a Randy Johnson to the Yankees trade, with the Diamondbacks being interested in Pirates 1B Craig Wilson and P Kip Wells.

4) The Cardinals signed INF Abraham Nunez to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

After -14 RCAA/.631 OPS and -14 RCAA/.667 OPS seasons, Nunez had a .319 SLG, .275 OBA, .593 OPS, -15 RCAA in 112 games. He’s spent his entire career with the Pirates and has a .622 career OPS, compared to his league average of .778, and -89 RCAA in 630 games.

5) The Hanshin Tigers signed P Jamie Brown.

Brown had a 5.87 ERA/-1 RSAA in 4 games with the Redsox.

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