ARLINGTON, Texas -- Second baseman Mark Grudzielanek has signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins, providing a possible veteran presence later in the season.
Grudzielanek played 14 major league seasons for five teams. He ended last season on the disabled list for Kansas City after hurting his ankle Aug. 1.
Grudzielanek will report to the Twins' extended spring training camp in Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday.
"He hasn't played for a while so it's going to be a while before we know what he can do," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He hasn't had spring training, but he's won a Gold Glove. He can hit and he can play, but I don't know what he can do to help us. It's up to how he gets through all this."
A .290 career hitter, Grudzielanek played 1,772 games for Montreal (1995-98), the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2002), Chicago Cubs (2003-04), St. Louis (2005) and the Royals (2006-08). He was an All-Star in 1996 and won a Gold Glove in 2006.
Alexi Casilla, the Twins' starting second baseman again after being recalled Friday from Triple-A Rochester, is hitting .175 in 36 games.
Gardenhire denied that Grudzielanek was signed to push Casilla.
"If Lexi's worried about that, he's probably in the wrong place," Gardenhire said. "He needs to worry about Lexi and that's what he's doing."
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