The Arizona Diamondbacks once depended upon Juan Gutierrez to help anchor their bullpen and close out games. Now the Kansas City Royals are hoping to find some value of their own in the reliever as they've assigned him to AA Northwest Arkansas after signing him to a minor league deal last winter.
Gutierrez has appeared in four games this season all with the Arizona League Royals. He went 0-1 with a 17.36 ERA in four and two-thirds innings. He last pitched in the major leagues in 2011 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He posted a 5.40 ERA in 18.1 innings of work, while striking out 23. The right-hander saved 24 games for the Diamondbacks over the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
Gutierrez just made four rehab appearances with the Arizona League team for the Royals in Surprise, and now will try to make his way back to the ML level.
The 29-year-old appeared in 20 games last season for the D-Backs.