The Royals have assigned left-hander Doug Davis to Triple-A Omaha.

Davis signed a minor league contract earlier the month and had been in extended spring training. With the current state of the Royals' pitching staff, it's not impossible that he could see an occasional start in the majors. He went 1-7 with a 6.50 ERA over nine starts for the Cubs last season.

Royals signed LHP Doug Davis to a minor league contract.

He's been assigned to extended spring training, and will progress to Triple-A Omaha once he builds up his stamina. With as bad as the Royals' rotation has been, there is no harm in gambling a veteran like Davis. He went 1-7 with a 6.50 ERA over nine starts for the Cubs last season.

White Sox signed LHP Doug Davis to a minor league contract.

Davis was released by the Cubs at the end of June after posting a 6.50 ERA over nine starts. The veteran left-hander will provide depth at the Triple-A level.

Cubs released LHP Doug Davis.

Davis was shelled for 10 earned runs in a four-plus inning start Tuesday against the Giants and will exit stage left having posted a 6.50 ERA and 1.86 WHIP in nine total starts for the Cubs. The veteran southpaw will likely seek a gig with another team.

Doug Davis allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks in five innings of work on Wednesday, falling to 1-6 in the Cubs' 4-3 setback against the White Sox.

He struck out two. Davis has become quite the workhorse of late by his standards, completing at least five innings of work in four of his past five outings. The owner of a 5.01 ERA and 1.69 through eight starts and 41 1/3 innings, Davis isn't about to come into any NL-only league value.

Doug Davis bent severely but did not break in five innings of work on Sunday, allowing two runs on five hits and five walks in a 4-3 Cubs loss to the Phillies.

He struck out six. Never a bastion of control, Davis has now issued 18 free passes in just 29 innings of work this season. He has also managed to tally 27 strikeouts, however. Davis has completed five innigs of work just three times through his first six starts this season.

Doug Davis was lit up by the Reds Tuesday, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks over just 4 1/3 innings.

He did at least strike out four, but that's hardly of any consolation to Cubs fans. Davis was good in his first start for the Cubbies and decent his last time out, but overall he's been pretty terrible, posting a 6.38 ERA and 1.83 WHIP. It might be time to give Rodrigo Lopez another shot in the rotation. If Davis does get the ball again, it will be this weekend against the Phillies.

Doug Davis will start Tuesday for the Cubs against the Reds.

In related Chicago pitching news, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat expects Scott Maine to be optioned to Triple-A Iowa to make room for Matt Garza, who comes off the disabled list for Monday's start. Davis is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA. His time in the rotation will likely be up soon.

Doug Davis fell to 0-3 after giving up four runs -- two earned -- in 4 2/3 innings Friday against the Pirates.

Davis will likely stay in the rotation for now, but he could be bumped in favor of Rodrigo Lopez when Matt Garza returns. He has a 6.75 ERA in three starts, and while that came down today, it was awfully frustrating to watch him walk six against a mediocre lineup.

Doug Davis allowed three runs -- one earned -- over five innings Saturday in a loss to the Cubs.

Davis was making his first start of the 2011 regular season and looked better than expected. He struck out six batters and allowed just four hits. If the veteran lefty can replicate that line in future starts, he should do fine as an innings eater for the Cubs. But it's unlikely to pan out that way.

Cubs purchased the contract of LHP Doug Davis from Triple-A Iowa.

As expected, Davis will make the start Saturday night against the Giants. It will be his first start in the majors since last July 9. It's a worthwhile gamble for the Cubbies considering their lack of depth, but he can mostly be ignored in fantasy leagues.

Doug Davis threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings Thursday in a minor league start at Single-A Daytona.

Davis is expected to move on to Triple-A Iowa now and could be less than two weeks from arriving back in the major leagues. The Cubs will wait to see how Andrew Cashner and Randy Wells are feeling before deciding whether to promote the veteran lefty.

Doug Davis struck out eight over six scoreless innings Saturday in an extended spring game.

He needed just 75 pitches to do so. Davis' next start will come Thursday for Low-A Peoria or High-A Daytona, then he'll move up to Triple-A Iowa for at least one start. James Russell will start on Monday, but after that the Cubs won't need a No. 5 starter for nearly two weeks, at which point Davis could be ready to assume the role. ``In my mind, with my confidence right now, I'm ready," Davis said. "I understand they obviously want me to throw 100 pitches, and I'm not there yet. Mentally, I'm ready.''

Cubs GM Jim Hendry expects Doug Davis to be at Triple-A Iowa by the end of April.

Signed to a minor league deal Tuesday, Davis will first pitch for a couple weeks in extended spring training. Depending on how Andrew Cashner and Randy Wells recover from their injuries, it's possible Davis could be part of the Cubs rotation by early May.

Cubs signed LHP Doug Davis to a minor league contract.

Davis will report to extended spring training and will work out there until the Cubs deem him ready to make minor league starts. If everything goes smoothly, he could climb his way to the big leagues in May. The 35-year-old lefty allowed 55 hits and 36 runs in just 38 1/3 innings last season for the Brewers.

According to Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, the Cubs are nearing a minor league deal with Doug Davis.

The Cubbies are loading up on starting rotation depth in the wake of recent injuries to Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner. Davis, 35, posted a brutal 7.51 ERA and 1.98 WHIP across eight starts for the Brewers last season and will likely be sent to Triple-A Iowa. Ramon Ortiz was also signed to a minor league contract this week.

Free agent left-hander Doug Davis threw for teams again Thursday.

We're not sure which teams were there to watch, only that the Yankees weren't one of them. Baltimore might be a possibility, as they're looking for some starter depth. Davis appears to be healthy and shouldn't be out of a job for much longer.

According to Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas, eight teams watched Doug Davis throw Thursday.

The Rangers were among them. Davis is now recovered from elbow surgery and hoping to land a chance with a big league team. Texas needs an early-season spot starter in the wake of Tommy Hunter's sudden groin strain. Davis, 35, has a decent 4.38 career ERA.

Free agent Doug Davis will audition for teams on March 24 in Tempe, Arizona.

Davis had surgery seven months ago to repair a small tear in his flexor tendon, but he's been throwing for about 10 weeks and is "feeling great," his agent, Steve Canter, said. Though he really struggled last year for the Brewers when healthy, Davis was relatively effective and quite durable his previous three years in Arizona. He might not sign with anyone before the season starts, but he could help someone at the back end of a rotation sometime during the year.

Doug Davis is not ready to retire and hopes to join a team during spring training.

The 35-year-old Davis was limited to just eight starts last season due to a heart condition and season-ending elbow surgery, but has started throwing and says that's he's in the "best shape of his career." He'll likely have to accept a minor league deal.