KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — First baseman Eric Hosmer and the Kansas City Royals avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $13.9 million, two-year contract.
Hosmer gets $5.65 million this year under Wednesday’s agreement and $8.25 million in 2016.
The 25-year-old hit .270 for the AL champions with 35 doubles, nine homers and 58 RBIs. He won his second straight Gold Glove.
He made $3.6 million last year and had asked for $6.7 million when the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month. The Royals had offered $4.6 million.
Kansas City has not gone to a hearing since Dayton Moore became general manager in 2006.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals and closer Greg Holland avoided salary arbitration when they agreed to an $8.25 million, one-year contract before their hearing.
Under the terms of Friday’s agreement, Holland will receive a $100,000 assignment bonus if he’s traded.
The 29-year-old right-hander was 1-3 with a 1.44 ERA for the AL champions and struck out 90 and walked 20 in 62 1-3 innings. He had seven more saves and a 0.82 ERA in the postseason. The Royals reached Game 7 of the World Series before losing to San Francisco.
Holland made $4,725,000 last year and had asked for $9 million when the sides exchanged proposed arbitration salaries last month. The Royals had offered $6.65 million.
He is eligible for free agency after the 2016 season.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals and reliever Kelvin Herrera have agreed on a $4.15 million, two-year deal that avoids arbitration, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal will not be completed until Herrera passes a physical. Herrera and the rest of the Royals’ pitchers and catchers are due to report to spring training in Arizona next week.
The 25-year-old Herrera made just $522,250 last season and was eligible for arbitration for the first time after compiling a 1.41 ERA. He filed for $1.9 million for this season and the Royals countered at $1.15 million.
Herrera is expected to again handle the seventh inning this season ahead of setup man Wade Davis and All-Star closer Greg Holland.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Pitcher Danny Duffy has agreed to a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals worth $2,425,000, avoiding a salary arbitration heading.
The 26-year-old left-hander was 9-12 with a 2.53 ERA in 25 starts and six relief appearances last year for the AL champions and held opponents to a .209 average. He won the AL Division Series opener against the Los Angeles Angels, when he pitched a scoreless 10th inning.
Duffy can earn $25,000 in performance bonuses under Friday’s agreement: $10,000 for 20 starts and $15,000 more for 25. He would get a $50,000 bonus if he’s an All-Star.
Duffy made $526,000 last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time. He had asked for $3 million when proposed arbitration figures were exchanged last month, and the Royals had offered $1.75 million.
Kansas City has three players remaining in arbitration: relievers Greg Holland and Kelvin Herrera, and first baseman Eric Hosmer.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Postseason star Lorenzo Cain and the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a one-year contract for $2,725,000, just ahead of what would have been Major League Baseball’s first salary arbitration hearing this year.
Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas also settled Tuesday, agreeing to a one-year contract for $2.64 million.
Cain had asked for $3.6 million and had been offered $2 million when the sides swapped figures last month. In addition to his salary, the speedy outfielder would earn a $25,000 bonus for 505 plate appearances.
The sides entered the room for the hearing, which was scheduled to start at 2 p.m., then stepped outside the room and reached the agreement.
Lorenzo Cain
Cain, 28, hit a team-best .301 with five homers, 53 RBIs and 28 steals in 33 chances last season, when he made $546,000. He was MVP of the Royals’ sweep of Baltimore in the AL Championship Series after batting .533 (8 for 15) with a pair of doubles. He hit .308 in the World Series loss to San Francisco.
The 26-year-old Moustakas would earn a $10,000 bonus if he has 550 or more plate appearances. He hit .212 with 21 doubles and 54 RBIs last year, when he made $549,000. He had asked for $3.1 million in arbitration and had been offered $1.85 million.
Four Royals remain in arbitration: first baseman Eric Hosmer and pitchers Danny Duffy, Kelvin Herrera and Greg Holland.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals and outfielder Jarrod Dyson have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract for $1,225,000.
Dyson, who is expected to be the Royals’ fourth outfielder, can also make $25,000 for reaching 350 plate appearances and $50,000 if he’s chosen for the All-Star game.
Dyson earned $530,000 last season, $30,000 over the major league minimum. He had asked for $1.6 million this season and the Royals had countered at $900,000.
The former 50th-round amateur draft pick hit .269 with one homer and 24 RBIs in 290 plate appearances last season. But his real value came on the base paths, where he had a career-high 36 steals.
The deal Tuesday leaves outfielder Lorenzo Cain, first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and pitchers Greg Holland, Kelvin Herrera and Danny Duffy as Kansas City’s remaining players in arbitration.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals have invited 23 non-roster players to spring training, including former fifth overall draft pick Bubba Starling and promising youngsters Miguel Almonte and Raul Mondesi.
Starling, who grew up near Kansas City, has struggled in the minor leagues but will get a taste of big league camp. Almonte, a right-hander, and Mondesi, an infielder, are non-drafted free agents who have become two of the club’s top prospects.
Other notable players headed to camp are infielder Hunter Dozier, the eighth overall draft pick in 2013; pitcher Sean Manea, the 34th overall choice the same year; and outfielder Brett Eibner, a second-round choice in 2010.
Pitchers and catchers report to Surprise, Arizona, for the start of spring training on Feb. 19. The Royals’ first full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 25.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Relief pitchers Louis Coleman and Tim Collins agreed to one-year contracts with the Kansas City Royals on Friday, allowing both of them to avoid arbitration.
Collins agreed at $1,475,000 and Coleman at $725,000.
The 25-year-old Collins, a left-hander, had a 3.86 ERA in 22 appearances with the Royals and earned $1.362,500. He made four appearances in the postseason, including three during the World Series.
Coleman, a 28-year-old right-hander, had a 5.56 ERA in 31 appearances with the Royals and earned $537,000. He has pitched parts of the past four seasons in Kansas City.
Kansas City still has seven players in arbitration without deals: pitchers Danny Duffy, Kelvin Herrera and Greg Holland; first baseman Eric Hosmer; third baseman Mike Moustakas; and outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Jarrod Dyson.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The AL champion Royals and Ned Yost have agreed on a one-year contract extension that will keep the manager with the franchise through the 2016 season.
Yost said after leading the Royals to an improbable pennant last season that he hoped to manage a few more years. His contract had been set to expire after the 2015 season.
Yost became the Royals’ manager in May 2010 and presided over a massive rebuilding effort that culminated with the end of a 29-year playoff drought. The Royals took the San Francisco Giants to the seventh game of the World Series before their season finally ended.
The longest-tenured manager in club history, Yost will soon become its winningest. He has 373 victories, trailing only Dick Howser (404) and Whitey Herzog (410).
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Longtime Royals executive Dean Taylor is retiring from the front office, part of a shakeup of the American League champions’ baseball operations department.
Taylor began his career in Kansas City in the early 1980s and spent time with the Atlanta Braves before becoming GM of the Milwaukee Brewers. He also worked for the Dodgers and Reds before returning to the Royals organization in 2006.
Royals GM Dayton Moore said Taylor will serve as a consultant.
Among other moves Monday, J.J. Picollo was promoted to vice president and assistant GM in charge of player personnel; Rene Francisco was appointed assistant GM of major league and international operations; Scott Sharp was made assistant GM of baseball operations; and Jin Wong became the assistant GM of baseball administration.
