Podsednik
Free agent outfielder Scott Podsednik has reached preliminary agreement on a contract with the Kansas City Royals, a baseball source told ESPN.com.
The deal will be completed after Podsednik passes a physical exam Friday.
Podsednik is expected to play center field in Kansas City, between right fielder Jose Guillen and left fielder David DeJesus. The Royals' outfield depth chart currently lists Mitch Maier and Willie Bloomquist as the top two center field candidates.
The Royals had also been looking at free agents Randy Winn and Rick Ankiel as potential center field options.
Podsednik, 33, hit .304 with a .353 on base percentage for the Chicago White Sox last season. He stole 70 bases for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2004, and has 266 career steals. He has made 614 of his 740 major league starts in the leadoff spot in the order.
Podsednik broke into the major leagues with Seattle in 2001 and has since played for the Brewers, White Sox and Colorado Rockies.
The Chicago Cubs expressed interest in Podsednik earlier this offseason before filling their outfield void with free agent Marlon Byrd.
The terms and length of Podsednik's deal with Kansas City weren't immediately available. Podsednik and his representatives had been discussing one- and two-year deals with clubs.
Jerry Crasnick covers Major League Baseball for ESPN Insider.