The Kansas City Royals have signed Raul Ibanez to a Minor League contract.

The 42-year-old was released by the Los Angeles Angels.

Ibanez batted just .157 in 57 games for the Angels, but 10 of his 26 hits were for extra bases.

Daniel Murphy has drawn trade interest, but the New York Mets could end up extending the player's contract.

A Mets insider called a deal that would buy out Murphy's final arbitration season and a few free agent years "possible," although more likely to happen this winter than during the season.

Murphy is arbitration-eligible for one more season, and would be a free agent after 2015.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are still discussing a long-term extension with Gregory Polanco.

Pittsburgh recently promoted Polanco to the Major Leagues.

The two sides engaged in serious discussions on a deal before the season.

Polanco is hitting .344/.420/.410 in 70 plate appearances.

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed Grady Sizemore to a Minor League contract.

The veteran outfielder was released by the Boston Red Sox last week.

Sizemore will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

Boston is responsible for Sizemore's $250,000 guaranteed big-league contract counting incentives he'd already earned. If he makes it to Philadelphia, the Phillies would then pay him a prorated portion of the major-league minimum salary.

Jason Hammel, who will be a free agent after this season, is open to returning to the Chicago Cubs if he's traded over the next five weeks.

"I would assume they are pretty happy with my body of work so far and if a trade happens it happens," Hammel said. "But I guarantee, say I was to go to another team, I love it here. I guarantee you they wouldn't be opposed to bringing me back next year."

Hammel is 6-5 with a 2.99 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 96.1 innings this season.

A little more than two weeks have gone by since the first round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft was held on June 5 in New Jersey.

The deadline for draft picks to sign contracts is July 18, but a majority of the selections have either signed or already come to agreement on deals with their new clubs. Of the 34 players taken in the first round, 26 have either begun or will soon begin their professional baseball careers.

Brady Aiken, the first overall pick, agreed to terms with the Houston Astros on a contract leading up to the draft and arrived in Houston on Monday to make things official.

Seven of the eight players that remain unsigned are pitchers. All eight players were selected out of college.

Carlos Rodon, who the Chicago White Sox took third overall, is the highest pick without a deal in place.

Jeff Hoffman (9th, Toronto), Max Pentecost (11th, Toronto), Tyler Beede (14th, San Francisco), Sean Newcomb (15th, L.A. Angels), Brandon Finnegan (17th, Kansas City), Erick Fedde (18th, Washington) and Nick Howard (19th, Cincinnati) are the other seven picks without contracts.

Grady Sizemore has received several inquires after he was released by the Boston Red Sox last week.

The veteran is sorting through for the "best opportunity" and will likely choose a club within the next few days.

Yasmani Tomas has defected from Cuba, multiple media outlets reported Friday.

The 23-year-old, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound right-handed power hitter who plays the corner-outfield spots, has been playing for Havana powerhouse Industriales since 2008 and was part of Cuba's national team at the World Baseball Classic in 2013.

The Texas Rangers have released Daniel Bard, who was at Class A Hickory.

The former Boston Red Sox prospect was trying to come back from shoulder surgery, but he could never conquer his command issues.

Jeff Samardzija reportedly rejected a five-year contract extension offer from the Chicago Cubs worth slightly more than $85 million.

The Cubs recently reengaged in extension talks with Samardzija, who has been prominent in trade rumors all season.