The Royals on Wednesday signed free-agent veteran starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco to a minor-league contract with a major-league spring training invite.
Save for some elbow issues and an ankle injury that limited him when he pitched for the Minnesota Twins from 2014-16, Nolasco has proved durable throughout his 12-year career. He has averaged 200 innings per year since his debut with the Florida Marlins in 2006. In the last six years, he’s averaged 161 innings per season.
Nolasco, 35, was the Los Angeles Angels’ opening day starter last year. He went 6-15 with a 4.92 ERA over 181 innings spanning 33 starts.