Surprise, Ariz. ? Outfielder Matt Diaz, who refused a waiver claim by the Baltimore Orioles, signed a minor-league contract with the Kansas City Royals and reported to the big-league camp Friday.

Diaz, 26, hit .332 with 21 home runs and 93 RBIs last season for Durham, the Class AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

“We see him as a prospect, not just as a supporting cast for the big-league club,” Royals general manager Allard Baird said. “He’s got good power and is a high-energy guy.”

Baird said Diaz likely would begin the season with the Royals’ Class AAA Omaha club unless the Royals had spring training injuries to outfielders under major-league contracts.

The Royals also signed Carlos Febles to a two-year minor-league contract. Febles was the Royals’ second baseman from 1999 to 2003, when he was released.

Febles suffered a knee injury in December playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. He is scheduled to have surgery and will miss this season.