Royals signed OF Mitch Maier to a minor league contract; assigned him to Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Maier last appeared in the majors in 2012, when he registered a .172/.260/.313 batting line in 74 plate appearances for the Royals. The 31-year-old will function as organizational outfield depth again for Kansas City.

Cubs released OF Mitch Maier.

Maier hasn't appeared in the majors since 2012, when he batted .172/.260/.313 in 74 plate appearances with the Royals. The former first-round pick will try to catch on with a new organization. He turns 32 years old in June.

Cubs signed OF Mitch Maier to a minor league contract.

Maier spent 2013 with Triple-A Pawtucket, an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. He accumulated just 137 plate appearances, but posted an .882 OPS while playing at all three outfield positions and occasionally serving as a DH.

Red Sox reassigned OF Mitch Maier to minor league camp.

Maier missed a large chunk of camp with a left wrist sprain. He'll act as organizational outfield depth this season.

An MRI confirmed that Mitch Maier is dealing with a "pretty severe sprain" of his left wrist.

Maier suffered the injury while making a diving catch in Friday's game. He'll remain in a splint for now and it's not clear when he'll be ready to resume baseball activities. His chances of making the Opening Day roster were already pretty slim, but this injury should seal his fate.

Mitch Maier is expected to miss the next few days after suffering a sprained wrist while making a diving catch in Friday's game.

Maier is having a nice spring, hitting .320 (8-for-25) with three RBI and a pair of steals, but is unlikely to earn a roster spot as a reserve outfielder. The 30-year-old should return to game action at some point next week.

Mitch Maier left Friday's game with an undisclosed injury.

Maier made a diving catch earlier in the game and may have jammed his wrist. He did stay in to bat and singled but then was removed after the inning. The Red Sox should update his status soon.

Red Sox signed OF Mitch Maier to a minor league contract.

He signed with the club in late October. Maier batted .172 (11-for-64) in 32 games with the Royals this season and owns a lousy .248/.327/.344 batting line in the big leagues. He is unlikely to win a roster spot during spring training.

Royals released OF Mitch Maier.

Royals sent OF Mitch Maier outright to Triple-A Omaha.

Maier was designated for assignment last week and went through waivers unclaimed. He'll continue to serve as outfield depth in the minors, and should be back at some point later this year.

Mitch Maier went 2-for-3 with a stolen base in Monday's loss to the Tigers.

He also drew a walk. Maier should see plenty of playing time in center field while Lorenzo Cain is on the shelf, but his appeal even in AL-only leagues is minimal.

The Royals and OF Mitch Maier avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract.

Maier batted just .232/.345/.337 with zero home runs and seven RBI in 113 plate appearances last year for the Royals. He'll be a backup outfielder again in 2012.

Bob Dutton at The Bellingham Herald reported that Mitch Maier and Gregor Blanco are expected to make the Royals out of training camp.

Maier has hit a very impressive .538/.625/.808 in 26 at-bats this spring, while Blanco has only four hits in 24 at-bats. If both players make the final cuts, they will serve as the team's back-up outfielders.

Mitch Maier went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-2 win over the Angels.

He also walked and stole a pair of bases. Maier, 28, isn't guaranteed an Opening Day roster spot after hitting .263/.333/.375 with five homers over 373 at-bats last season. He's out of options, though, and is certainly helping his cause with a 7-for-11 start at the dish this spring.

Mitch Maier (knee) went 2-for-4 with a strikeout Saturday in his return to the Royals' lineup.

Maier went down in late September with a sore left knee. He's batting .260/.330/.374 this season with five homers and 39 RBI in 369 at-bats.

Mitch Maier returned to action on Saturday October 2.

Mitch Maier missed his fourth straight game Wednesday due to a sore left knee.

He's still considered day-to-day. His injury probably isn't the worst thing in the world, as it has given the Royals more time to evaluate the likes of Jarrod Dyson and Jai Miller.

Mitch Maier remains day-to-day with a stiff left knee.

The outfielder was scratched from Sunday's lineup because of the knee issue and did not play on Monday. Maier is batting .258/.328/.373 with five homers and 39 RBI over 365 at-bats this season for Kansas City.

Mitch Maier was a late scratch from Sunday's lineup due to a stiff left knee.

It's not clear if this will keep Maier out multiple days, but he should be considered day-to-day for now. Jai Miller replaced him in the lineup.

Royals manager Ned Yost thinks that outfielder Mitch Maier is an ideal No. 2 hitter.

The Royals have a formula for charting situational hitting, and Maier rates as the best on the team, which is why Yost likes him in the two spot, where he has hit the last two games. "Mitch is the leader on our club in terms of situational average," Yost said. "For us, 70 percent is ideal, 65 good. Mitch is .830. He's a natural fit in that No. 2 hole." Studies have shown that putting a "situational" hitter in the No. 2 hole is one of worst ways to set up a lineup, but hey, we can always count on the Royals to give us some faulty logic.