We basically just re-acquired Frenchy
Someone follows Rany on twitter! 
Yea but I was thinking it before I even saw his post. This is why the Royals will never win the WS (or come close) with the current brain trust. If the value of Frenchy was so little that you basically pay him to go away, why go out a give up a decent prospect for a similar player? This move reeks of "we wanted to do something bigger but nothing worked out so we did something to make it look like we did something".
Even if Cain is going to be out for awhile, if they weren't going to get a 2B then stay pat, be creative (I bet Kottaras could play OF in a pinch, and Hoz and Elliot both have at least a minimal amout of OF experiance). Then keep Smith and use him to shop this winter when they have a better idea of whether Duffy and Paulino can make it all they way back, whether Santana is sticking around, and if Ventura and Zimmer are ML ready or to still improve that gaping black hole at 2B.
