The Royals today announced the club has signed right-handed pitcher Blaine Boyer to a minor league contract for 2013.  

Boyer, 31, is 9-14 with a 4.81 ERA in 233 Major League relief appearances for the Braves (2005-09), Cardinals (2009), Diamondbacks (2009-10) and Mets (2011).  The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder from Murietta, Ga., is a groundball specialist, allowing just 17 home runs in 234.0 innings.