Royals ink 3 minor league free agents

Via Baseball America the Royals signed contracts with lefthander Mitchell Beacom, Zach Jackson and third baseman Matt Sweeney.

The Royals had drafted Beacom from UCLA in the 36th round of the 2010 draft but he would return to school prior to getting picked in the 20th round by the San Francisco Giants a year later.  The funky throwing lefty was thought to be a decent LOOGY option down the road with his low delivery and high 80s stuff but has yet to realize that possibility in minor league ball, pitching just 9.1 innings since the Giants took him.

Royals fans are probably familiar with Zach Jackson as the lefty has faced the Royals a couple times while with the Cleveland Indians.  Of course his claim to fame is that he was apart of the CC Sabathia trade that sent he, Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley to Cleveland.  Jackson could be decent lefty insurance to have in Omaha.

Matt Sweeney was a former 8th round pick of the Anaheim Angels who they flipped along with Sean Rodriguez and Alex Torres in the famous, his arm is blowing up Scott Kazmir deal. The promising third baseman was the prize in the deal as Keith Law wrote (INSIDER content) but would not capitalize on his potential likely leaving Rodriguez and Torres as the players who would reach the majors in that deal for the Rays. The third baseman will likely play for NW Arkansas who will be somewhat barren positionally speaking.