Kansas City Royals

Free-agent pitcher Travis Wood has finally found a new home for 2017 after signing with the Kansas City Royals.

The Royals announced the deal Wednesday, noting Wood signed a two-year contract with a mutual option for a third season. Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball reported Wood will get $4 million in 2017, $6.5 million in 2018 and that the option is worth $8 million with a $1.5 million buyout. 

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com first broke the news on Monday. 

Wood spent the last five seasons with the Chicago Cubs, winning a World Series with the team in 2016. He began his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010 and was primarily a starting pitcher through the 2014 season. 

While Wood had moderate success as a starter, his permanent move to the bullpen in 2015 helped take his performance to another level. 

Even though his role as a reliever makes the most sense, Wood does at least have the history as a starter and versatility to pitch in at the back end of a rotation if a need arises. 

Because Wood only pitched 61 innings last season with the Cubs, it will take time for him to rebuild his arm where it's to the point he can handle starting every fifth day. He could begin the year as a multiple-inning swingman as preparation for the role.

The southpaw is the third Cub to bring championship experience to the Royals this offseason, joining outfielder Jorge Soler and starting pitcher Jason Hammel. Kansas City will look to rediscover those winning ways in 2017 after it missed the playoffs last year after two straight World Series appearances.

The Royals finished a disappointing 24th in the league in staff ERA against left-handed batters last season, per ESPN.com, but Wood held left-handers to a mere .128 batting average in 2016, per the same source. If he can replicate those numbers as a left-handed weapon, Kansas City will be much better prepared to compete in the American League Central. 

The Kansas City Royals formally introduced pitcher Jason Hammel at a news conference on Wednesday, and the 34-year-old acknowledged he wouldn't have been in this situation had Yordano Ventura not died in a car accident last month. 

"I feel like I need to express my condolences to Royals Nation and the Ventura family," Hammel said, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "I truly feel if that unfortunate passing doesn't happen, you're not talking to me."

General manager Dayton Moore echoed that sentiment. 

"Obviously we weren't in the starting pitcher market, although we'd been an admirer of Jason for a while and knew he was an option out there," he said, per the AP. "We were very surprised, truthfully, that he remained on the market as well. Once we got over the shock of Yordano, you have to move forward."

Ventura, 25, died on Jan. 22 following a car accident in his native Dominican Republic, according to the New York Times' Tyler Kepner. 

The 2017 season will represent Hammel's 12th in the majors after he signed a two-year, $16 million deal with the Royals, according to the AP. 

Last year, Hammel won a career-high 15 games and posted a 3.83 ERA, 1.206 WHIP, 144 strikeouts and 53 walks with the Chicago Cubs.

"We have a baseball season to play, a team we're responsible for, players we're committed to and a fanbase we're responsible for as well," Moore said, per the AP. "So our scouts to a man, our entire front office, said, 'There's one guy out there that really makes us better.'"

First baseman/outfielder Brandon Moss is on the move once again, as he came to terms with the Kansas City Royals on a two-year contract on Jan. 29.

The Royals announced the two-year deal on Wednesday.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported on Jan. 29 that Moss' deal is worth $12 million. Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball confirmed Passan's report. 

On Monday, Heyman reported Moss has a third-year option and will be paid $3.75 million in 2017, $7.25 million in 2018 and holds a $1 million buyout on the 2019 option.

The 33-year-old has hit 123 home runs over the past five seasons while spending time with the St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics, and he made his All-Star Game debut in 2014. He has also spent time with the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox over the course of his 10-year career.

Moss has been traded twice over the last two years, but perhaps he'll find a long-term home in Kansas City.

The question will be whether the streaky hitter performs closer to how he did in the first half of 2016, when he averaged .256 with 17 home runs, or the second half when he batted just .191 with 11 homers. Moss hit only .084 during the month of September, and the Cardinals fell short of the playoffs.

His former manager, Mike Matheny, was well aware of Moss' ability to turn things around quickly.

"Brandon is always a click away," Matheny said in September, per Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Whatever makes it go, can make it go in a hurry. And it can stick around for a while."

The Royals can only hope he'll have more hot streaks than slumps over the course of the 2017 season.

Additionally, Moss provides value with his defensive versatility, as he is capable of playing first base and each corner outfield spot. That will allow the Royals to move him around and get the most out of their lineup, although he will also spend a lot of time at designated hitter.

Jessica Kleinschmidt of FanGraphs believes Kansas City is a good fit for Moss:

If he avoids any prolonged slumps, Moss should pay dividends for the Royals. 

The Kansas City Royals and Danny Duffy agreed to terms on a five-year extension worth $65 million, according to Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan.  

The Royals formally announced the extension on Twitter:

The Kansas City Star's Rustin Dodd shared a yearly breakdown of the contract:

Duffy was under team control for one more season before he was set to become a free agent next winter, per Spotrac.

The 28-year-old left-hander went 12-3 with a 3.51 ERA in 42 appearances for the Royals in 2016. He began the year in the bullpen before making his first start May 15 and emerging as the Royals' ace.

According to FanGraphs, Duffy finished with a 3.56 ERA and 3.99 FIP in 26 starts, both of which were the lowest among Kansas City's regular starting pitchers. Duffy also averaged a career-best 9.42 strikeouts and 2.10 walks per nine innings.

With major question marks over the starting rotation, re-signing Duffy was a great move for Kansas City. Edinson Volquez signed with the Miami Marlins, Ian Kennedy was disappointing in the first year of his five-year deal, and Yordano Ventura took a big step backward in 2016.

Keeping Duffy for the next five years stabilizes the staff, and an average of $13 million is a more than reasonable salary. He won't even be the highest-paid starter. Kennedy, who is four years older, will earn an average of roughly $15.6 million for the next four seasons, per Spotrac.

ESPN.com's Dan Szymborski tweeted that Duffy's deal gives the Royals some flexibility:

Kansas City made back-to-back World Series in 2014 and 2015, winning a title the second time around, but general manager Dayton Moore said in October he expected the team's payroll to "regress a little bit" after the Royals spent relatively big in pursuit of a World Series ring, per Dodd.

Duffy's extension is evidence, however, that Kansas City's ownership is still willing to invest in the team to ensure it remains competitive in 2017 and beyond.

With starting pitcher Danny Duffy set to hit arbitration, he and the Kansas City Royals have reportedly begun contract talks.

Continue for updates.

Royals, Duffy Reportedly Interested in Extension

Friday, Nov. 4

According to MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan, the Royals and Duffy have mutual interest, although general manager Dayton Moore declined to comment.

Moore did, however, offer the following statement regarding the organization's overall stance: "[It] has always been our intention to keep our young talent when possible."

After starting the 2015 season in the bullpen, Duffy went on to enjoy the best year of his career once he was moved to the starting rotation.

The 27-year-old lefty went 12-3 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 188 strikeouts in 179.2 innings overall. That included a 3.56 ERA as a starter.

Duffy has started at least 24 games in each of the past three seasons, and while injuries have limited him at times during his career, 2016 was easily his healthiest year.

After the loss of Johnny Cueto in free agency, Duffy emerged as KC's ace over the likes of Yordano Ventura, Edinson Volquez and Ian Kennedy.

He arguably possesses better stuff than any other pitcher on the Royals staff, and the fact that he is a southpaw makes him highly valuable.

Duffy is likely in line for a significant raise through arbitration from the $4.225 million he made in 2016, per Spotrac, so working out a long-term contract is a move that would be beneficial to both sides.

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Shortstop Alcides Escobar will return to the Kansas City Royals for a seventh season as the team is reportedly set to pick up his 2017 team option.  

Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball first reported the decision, with Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com confirming the report.

According to Spotrac, the 29-year-old veteran will earn $6.5 million during the upcoming season.

Escobar is coming off one of his best offensive seasons, as he hit .261 with 57 runs scored and 17 stolen bases to go along with a career-high seven home runs and 55 RBI. He also appeared in all 162 games for the second time in three years.

Per Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star, Royals manager Ned Yost marveled at the Venezuela native's ability to compete day in and day out: "He just doesn't wear down. When he has injuries, he heals extraordinarily fast, so that he's not out a long time. He's got a very high tolerance for pain. He doesn't ever show any effects of it."

In fact, Escobar has appeared in at least 145 games in seven straight seasons dating back to his final campaign with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010 before getting traded to the Royals.

Escobar's greatest success came in 2015, as he was named to his first and only All-Star team and also won a Gold Glove for the first time.

In addition to that, Escobar was a key part of Kansas City's run to a World Series championship. He hit .321 with one home run, nine RBI, one stolen base and 13 runs scored, and he was named the American League Championship Series MVP.

Escobar averaged nearly 29 steals per season from 2011 through 2014, but he has run less over the past two campaigns and registered just 17 swipes in each.

Also, despite Escobar's Gold Glove, it is fair to question how great of a fielder he actually is. He posted a career-worst defensive runs saved above average of minus-6 last season, and since his career high of 10 in 2011, he has registered a positive figure just once, according to Baseball-Reference.com.

Even if Escobar is somewhat overrated defensively and has become less of a threat on the basepaths, he remains among the most reliable shortstops in baseball.

He shows up to play every day, can be used near the top or bottom of the lineup and proved in the 2015 playoffs that he can come through in clutch situations.

Escobar is a good fit for a Royals team that thrives on being relentless and having flexibility within the lineup, so bringing him back at a fair price was an obvious move on its part. 

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Wade Davis has been one of the better closers in baseball over the past two seasons, and the Kansas City Royals are expected to make a prudent move to keep the 31-year-old in tow Thursday by picking up his $10 million club option for 2017.  

Today's Knuckleball's Jon Heyman first relayed news of the Royals' decision to pick up Davis' option. Jeffery Flanagan of MLB.com confirmed that report. 

Davis has ranked among MLB's more reliable relievers over the past two seasons—both of which have seen him earn All-Star nods. 

He was arguably the best reliever in baseball during the 2015 season, and the numbers back that up. Davis went 8-1 with a 0.94 ERA and 0.787 WHIP in 67.1 innings while recording 17 saves, and he kept opposing batters off balance to the tune of a .144 batting average. 

Davis' 2016 season wasn't quite as prolific, namely because he missed a portion of July and all of August because of a right forearm strain. 

As a result, Davis was limited to 43.1 innings. During that stretch, he notched 27 saves, a 1.87 ERA, 1.131 WHIP, 47 strikeouts and 16 walks as opponents mustered a slash line of .210/.295/.242. 

Davis' recurring forearm troubles over the past year could have given the Royals pause, since they had the option to buy out the final year of his deal for $2.5 million, but the way in which his workload has decreased ever since he shifted to a closing role should alleviate concerns. 

Since he'll officially be under team control for one more season, the Royals will also have the option to dangle Davis as a trade chip should an offer surface that allows them to maximize the return on their investment. 

The Kansas City Royals are reportedly willing to part with star closer Wade Davis if the right trade offer comes along during the offseason.

Continue for updates.

Royals Listening to Offers for Davis

Friday, Oct. 14

Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball reported Friday teams have started calling Kansas City about Davis, and the front office is listening as it looks to make payroll cuts before the 2017 season.

The Royals hold a $10 million club option on Davis for next year, which includes a $2.5 million buyout clause, according to Spotrac. Heyman noted picking it up is a "formality."

The 31-year-old reliever is coming off another terrific season at the back end of Kansas City's bullpen. He racked up 27 saves while blowing just three chances to go along with a 1.87 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 43.1 innings.

To put in perspective how good he's been over the past three years, his outstanding 1.87 ERA was still nearly the combined totals of his 2014 (1.00) and 2015 (0.94) seasons. It's a far cry from 2013, when he struggled to a 5.32 ERA while spending most of his time as a starter.

His name also popped up in the rumor mill leading up to the trade deadline with the Royals on the fringe of the playoff race at the time. Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star passed along the closer's comments about trying to keep his mind off what could happen.

"People talk about it sometimes, even players," Davis said in July. "And when it comes down to it, we're here because, one, we love to play baseball. And obviously, we're here for our teammates, but most of all, (we're here for) our families."

The only concern is his health. He landed on the disabled list twice during the regular season with forearm problems, which other teams will surely want to look into before giving up any key assets.

Kansas City may be best served waiting awhile to make a move, though. The free-agent market is littered with top-tier relievers, led by Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon, which could limit what teams are willing to offer for Davis for the time being.

If the Royals wait until those other marquee closers sign new contracts over the winter, they could get better value on the trade market from a team that missed out on the free agents.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez was removed from Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Twins after suffering a wrist injury on a hit-by-pitch.

Continue for updates.

Perez Suffers Contusion on Wrist

Tuesday, Sept. 6

An Ervin Santana hit-by-pitch knocked Perez out of his team's game, according to Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press.

Joel Goldberg of FSKC reported the injury was revealed to be a wrist contusion.

The 26-year-old catcher is hitting .254 on the season after going 0-for-2 Tuesday, although his 20 home runs are one shy of his career high. He was also named to his fourth straight All-Star Game this season.

Perez has a knack for getting hit during games, as Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com joked:

However, this hasn't kept the talented player off the field, as he remains one of the most used catchers in baseball. He led the majors with 142 games played at catcher in 2015 after playing 150 the year before.

The catcher is once again near the top of the list in 2016 with 122 games played, which would have been more if not for six games missed earlier in the year with a quad contusion. This was the only time he didn't play consecutive games all season.

If the Royals are going to make a late-season run toward one of the American League wild-card spots, they will need all of their players healthy, especially Perez. His bat provides a major force in the lineup, and the three-time Gold Glove winner is also valuable in the field.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez hit his 20th home run of the season in Sunday's 10-4 win over the Boston Red Sox, becoming the first player in Royals history to record multiple 20-homer seasons while primarily playing behind the plate, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Perez's milestone blast came in the second inning of Sunday's game, with the 26-year-old backstop taking Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez over the Green Monster to give the Royals an early 1-0 lead.

Although the lead widened to 2-0 by the end of the frame, the Red Sox bounced back with four runs between the fourth and fifth innings before an eight-run sixth inning by the Royals eventually quieted them.

Perez also contributed to the massive inning, drawing a walk to load the bases with nobody out while the Royals were still trailing by two runs.

Already one of the top catchers in franchise history, Perez is on pace to best last season's career-high mark of 21 home runs, though his 58 RBI still leave him 21 short of his career-best total (79 in 2013) in that category.

The added power has come with a bit of a trade-off, as Perez already has a career-high 101 strikeouts, shedding his reputation as a low-strikeout, low-walk batter who mostly puts the ball in play.

The end result has been just fine, with Perez's current .759 OPS representing the best mark he's recorded in a full season.