Kansas City, Mo. ? The Kansas City Royals purchased the contract of Horacio Ramirez from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, adding the veteran left-hander to their bullpen.

Ramirez went 8-7 with a 7.16 earned-run average in 20 starts last season with Seattle, which released him in spring training.

He has a 38-29 record with a 4.61 ERA in 106 career games, all but two starts.

“He’s able to pitch against left-handers and right-handers,” manager Trey Hillman said. “He’s stretched out. He’s an experienced guy. We’ll probably use him long for the most part, but we’ll utilize him as needed and help to get to the guys we’re using in the back end in Ramon Ramirez and Ron Mahay to get to (Joakim) Soria.”

The Royals signed Horacio Ramirez to a minor league contract on May 21, and he went 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts with Omaha.

“Last year I was on the (disabled list) for about six weeks for shoulder tendinitis, shoulder discomfort,” said Ramirez, who played for Atlanta for four seasons before joining the Mariners. “It kind of bugged me after that. I was never 100 percent, but I don’t think that’s an excuse for what I did. I was still able to go out there when the ball was given to me.

“I just didn’t make the adjustment real well going from the National League to the American League.”

Kansas City optioned rookie right-hander Carlos Rosa to Omaha to make room for Ramirez.

Rosa had no record and a 2.70 ERA in two relief appearances with the Royals.