No one who entered the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at Fleming Park had a bigger smile or brighter outlook than Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame second baseman Frank White.

He was about to embark on his first Secret Santa Sleigh Ride, and he was excited.

“I don’t know what to expect,” White said, “but I’ve heard so many good things about their sleigh rides and I can’t wait to see what they’re like.”

As this new crew of elves visited in Sheriff Mike Sharp’s office, Secret Santa made a request of White.

Before the eight-time Gold Glove second baseman could don a red ELF (Ever Lasting Friend) cap, he had to be initiated into the Society of ELFs.

“Let me prove myself worthy,” joked White as he took a knee before Secret Santa.

White looked at the crowd of onlookers gazing at him, and quipped, “I feel like I’m being knighted.”

In a way, he was.

“I want you to experience a random act of kindness,” Secret Santa said, “because it will change your life.”

Following the brief ceremony, White donned his ELF cap and was out the door.

The sleigh ride took Secret Santa, Sharp, White and a crew of elves to a Salvation Army Family Store in Lee’s Summit and the Independence Community Services League.

It was at the Community Services League where White experienced what the Secret Santa mission was all about.

A grandmother of 11, who was blind in one eye, was there to get some assistance so she might provide Christmas gifts for her grandchildren.

A single mother of two, who had no tree or presents, was about to be evicted from her apartment, and she needed help.

An 11-year-old boy named Sammy Faiva spent his free time volunteering at CSL and seemed wise beyond his years.

A widow simply needed some food from the CSL pantry because her pantry at home was empty.

“The stories were unbelievable,” said White, who spent several minutes talking to an Independence resident who was hoping to get some assistance so he could get toys for his children.

“I had this tear, hanging right here,” White said, pointing to the corner of his eye, “and I had to work to keep it from running down my cheek. These people had so much dignity, I wanted them to know how much I respected them. I was honored to be with them this holiday season.”

White earned his ELF hat that day, and promised that he will be a part of many future sleigh rides.

“It changed my life, it really did,” White said. “It’s amazing what one random act of kindness can mean to someone at Christmas, or really, any time of the year. I felt blessed to be asked to go along on the sleigh ride.”

In exchange for Gonzalez, a 26-year-old who has won 15-plus games and thrown 200-plus innings in each of the past two seasons, the Nationals are giving up three pitching prospects — right-handers Brad Peacock and A.J. Cole, and lefty Tommy Milone — plus catching prospect Derek Norris. Peacock, Cole and Norris ranked third, fourth and ninth, respectively, in Baseball America’s recent list of the Nationals’ top prospects.

The package was less than the one the Nationals were willing to send to the Royals for Greinke a year ago: That deal would have cost the Nationals at least one from a group that included Zimmermann, closer Drew Storen or second baseman Danny Espinosa, plus additional prospects.

At the same time, Gonzalez, a first-time all-star in 2011, is not without flaws. A power arm who ranked fourth in the American League in 2011 with 8.78 strikeouts per nine innings, he also led the league in walks, with 91, a year after finishing second with 90. It also appears he benefited from pitching in Oakland’s cavernous Coliseum the past four seasons, recording a career ERA of 3.56 at home versus 4.32 on the road.

The trade was the fourth of Gonzalez’s career since the Chicago White Sox drafted him as a sandwich-round pick (38th overall) in 2004.

Still, the Nationals, whose offseason to this point had been marked by high-profile misses and low-profile hits, suddenly have taken a major step in their quest to contend for a playoff spot as soon as 2012. With Strasburg, Zimmermann and Gonzalez atop their rotation, the Nationals have three young, controllable power arms that could form the nucleus of a formidable pitching staff for the next four-plus years. (Gonzalez doesn’t become arbitration-eligible until 2013 and is under team control until 2015.)

“Whatever team is willing to . . . put me in their rotation,” Gonzalez said Wednesday in an appearance on MLB Network Radio, regarding a possible trade, “I’d be more than happy to shine like a star there.”

The Nationals reportedly also are receiving a throw-in, pitching prospect Rob Gilliam, in the trade. A 24-year-old right-hander, Gilliam went 12-7 with a 5.04 ERA for high-Class A Stockton (Calif.) in 2011.

The trade, which cost the Nationals dearly in prospects but relatively little in dollars, is certain to renew speculation that the Nationals will make a run at free agent first baseman Prince Fielder, whose price tag could hit $25 million per year for seven or more years, in an all-out effort to contend next season with Philadelphia, Atlanta and Florida in the suddenly ultra-competitive NL East division.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have signed reliever Jose Mijares to a 1-year contract, giving manager Ned Yost another left-handed option late in games.

The team announced the deal Wednesday. Terms were not disclosed.

Mijares went 3-6 with a 3.16 ERA in 186 appearances since making his debut for the Twins in 2008, but he was just 0-2 with a 4.59 ERA in 58 games last season.

Mijares is currently 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in eight outings for Tigres De Aragua in the Venezuelan Winter League, with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Royals general manager Dayton Moore envisions Mijares as a situational lefty. Mijares fills out the Royals’ 40-man roster.