On Friday, the KC Royals claimed 6’8 right-hander Chris Volstad off waivers from the Chicago Cubs.

The first round pick in 2005 by the Florida Marlins has struggled throughout his career. He was traded from the Marlins to the Cubs in the Carlos Zambrano offseason dump prior to the 2012 season.

With the Cubs over 21 starts, Volstad was 3-12 with a 6.31 ERA. He struck 61 over 111.1 innings. He even spent parts of June and July in the minors. The one month that wasn’t brutal for him was August, when he carried a 3.72 ERA over six starts.

Volstad did not win a game over a 24 start span, dating back to 2011 with the Marlins, until picking up a victory on August 26th. He spent much of the season in Cubs manager Dale Sveum’s doghouse for not sticking to the game plan.

Over his big league career (he debuted in 2008 with the Marlins), he is 35-51 with a 4.87 ERA in 124 appearances (123 starts). Volstad’s best season came in his first. He went 6-4 with a 2.88 ERA over 15 appearances (14 starts).

Walks have always been a problem for him. He has walked 247 over 695.1 career innings. Volstad is yet another reclamation project for pitching coach Dave Eiland.

Don’t the Royals have enough pitchers like Volstad already?

*The waiver claim fills the Royals 40-man roster spot.