KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals traded veteran outfielder Jose Guillen to the San Francisco Giants on Friday in exchange for a player to be named later and cash considerations.
The Royals announced the deal hours before the Giants hosted San Diego in an NL West showdown. The Giants will be Guillen's 10th major league team in 14 seasons.
Guillen was signed three years ago to a $36 million, three-year contract that made him the Royals' highest-paid player per year in team history.
Just a month ago, the 34-year-old Guillen put together a hitting streak that stretched to more than 20 games and was leading the team with 16 home runs and 62 RBIs when he was designated for assignment Aug. 5, hitting .255. The move allowed the Royals to play highly touted prospect Kila Ka'aihue every day, and Guillen also didn't like being a reserve.
Guillen struggled with injuries in Kansas City, playing in just 81 games last year with nine home runs, tied for his fewest since 2002. He was out for weeks after a knee injury sustained while he was putting on a shin guard and missed several days of 2009 spring training after deciding to rip out an ingrown toenail with a pair of pliers.