Royals sign Buchholz to minor league contract

Right-hander Clay Buchholz is the Kansas City Royals’ latest reclamation pitching project.

The two-time All-Star and the Royals finalized a minor league contract yesterday, and he would get a $1.5 million, one-year deal if added to the 40man roster. The 32-year-old could earn $250,000 in performance bonuses: $25,000 per start from 10-19.

Ryan Madson and Joe Blanton are among the pitchers who revived their careers with the Royals.

“It’s just depth,” manager Ned Yost said. “He pitched seven innings last year. He could bounce back like like Madson and Blanton did, two big bounce-back guys. We don’t know. We’ll just see how it plays out.”

Drafted by the Red Sox with the 42nd overall pick in 2006, Buchholz made his debut in August 2007 and pitched a no-hitter against Baltimore in his second big league appearance. He was 81-61 in 10 seasons with the Sox.

Buchholz was traded to Philadelphia in December 2016 for minor league infielder Josh Tobias, made two starts for the Phillies and needed surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm.

Dodgers catch break

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner’s broken left wrist is expected to heal without surgery, according to manager Dave Roberts.

Turner was hurt Monday when hit by a pitch from Oakland’s Kendall Graveman.

He arrived at the Dodgers spring training facility with a cast over his wrist yesterday morning and was scheduled to see a hand specialist for an estimate of the time he could miss.

“We know that it’s not a surgery thing, it’s just essentially time,” Roberts said. “That’s the initial thought.”

Cobb, O’s agree

With fewer than 10 days to go until Opening Day, the Orioles are nearing their biggest upgrade of the offseason: a deal with former Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Cobb, according to an industry source.

The Orioles had interest in Cobb, 30, since the first weeks of the offseason, but the starting pitcher’s demands never seemed to be in line with what the club was willing to give, especially in terms of the years of commitment.

Now, the Orioles have agreed to terms on a four-year deal with Cobb in the range of $60 million. The deal is not yet finalized and is pending a club physical.

Happ good to open

J.A. Happ has been picked to start Opening Day for the Blue Jays. Manager John Gibbons said the 35-year-old left-hander will face the Yankees and right-hander Luis Severino on March 29. Happ went 10-11 with a 3.53 ERA in 25 starts last season . . . .

Lefty Brett Anderson is back pitching with the club for which he broke into the big leagues, reaching agreement on a minor league contract with the Athletics . . . .

Miami Marlins right-hander Dan Straily has mild right forearm inflammation and will not throw for five or six days.