Royals Sign Oakland Pitcher Storm Davis

The Kansas City Royals signed pitcher Storm Davis today, the Cleveland Indians signed free agent Keith Hernandez and the Montreal Expos picked up Dennis (Oil Can) Boyd.

Davis, the third free agent lost by the Oakland A’s at baseball’s winter meetings, signed a three-year contract.

He was 19-7 for the World Series champion A’s last season but was unhappy that he was not used in the World Series and said he would look elsewhere after the season.

The A’s also lost designated hitter Dave Parker to Milwaukee and infielder Tony Phillips of Detroit.

Davis joins AL Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen, Mark Gubicza, Tom Gordon and Charlie Leibrandt in the Royals’ rotation. Kansas City also signed free agent pitcher Rich Dotson earlier in the week.

Hernandez, 36, was a key player in helping turn the New York Mets into a World Series champion in 1986.

Leg injuries caused him to miss much of the last two seasons, however, and the Mets decided not to offer him a new contract. He made $2 million for the 1989 season.

The Indians, looking for a first baseman, gave Hernandez a two-year deal worth nearly $2 million plus incentives.

The Indians do not expect to sign free agent first baseman Pete O’Brien, and Hernandez will be the starter.

Boyd, 30, was 3-2 with a 4.42 earned run average in 10 starts last season for Boston. He has had three blood clots in his right shoulder in the last two years, has been on the disabled list for three straight years and is only 13-12 overall in that time.

“After a lot of discussion, we thought we’d take a chance on him bouncing back,” Expos General Manager Dave Dombrowski said.