KANSAS CITY -- The Kansas City Royals purchased the contract of right-hander Jose Lima from Triple-A Omaha on Sunday and optioned righty Nate Field to Omaha.

Lima, a 10-year veteran and 21-game winner in 1999 with Houston Astros, had been pitching in the independent Atlantic League before the Royals signed him last week. He started on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants.

Lima replaced scheduled starter Kyle Snyder, who is hampered by back pain. Lima's last stint in the majors was last year with the Detroit Tigers, going 4-6 with a 7.77 ERA.

Lima was an NL All-Star in 1999, when he went 21-10 with the Houston Astros. He won 16 games for the Astros the previous season. The right-hander is 63-74 with a 5.14 ERA in nine big league seasons.

The Royals also placed infielder Mendy Lopez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained calf muscle and reinstated 2B Carlos Febles from the disabled list.

Right-hander Miguel Asencio, who underwent elbow surgery last week, was moved from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.