Royals sign catcher Miguel Olivo

Royals sign catcher Miguel Olivo to one-year deal with mutual option for 2009

Kansas City, MO (Dec. 27, 2007) - The Kansas City Royals have signed catcher Miguel Olivo to a one-year contract for 2008. The Royals and Olivo each hold options for the 2009 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"Miguel is a talented catcher with a power bat and a very strong throwing arm," Royals General Manager Dayton Moore said. "With him and John Buck, they form one of the most powerful catching duos in baseball."

Olivo, 29, has served as the Florida Marlins primary catcher the past two seasons after spending four seasons with the White Sox (2002-04), Mariners (2004-05) and Padres (2005). Olivo hit .237 (107-for-452) with 20 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs and 60 RBI in 122 games with Florida in 2007 after hitting .263 (113-for-430) with 22 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs and 58 RBI in 2006. Defensively, he has thrown out 31.2 percent (45 of 144) of attempted base stealers the past two seasons, good for fourth-best in the National League.

The 6-foot, 220-pound Olivo is a career .239 hitter with 61 home runs and 224 RBI in 556 games. His 32 home runs over the past two seasons rank tied for sixth among catchers in baseball. Olivo's .415 (22-for-53) average at Kauffman Stadium ranks second-best all-time among players with at least 50 at bats (Javy Lopez, .423).

Born in Villa Vasquez, Dominican Republic, Olivo now resides in Ceres, Calif., with his wife, Gloria, and their six children, Miguel Jr., Minaya, Alexandria, Sergio, Alazay and Erica. His second cousin once removed is current Royals shortstop Tony Pena, Jr. Olivo was originally signed by the Oakland A's as a non-drafted free agent on Sept. 30, 1996.

A corresponding 40-man roster move will be announced at a later date.