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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals signed five players to one-year contracts Friday, leaving All-Star third baseman Mike Moustakas and All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain as their only unsigned arbitration-eligible players.
Pitcher Danny Duffy received the biggest deal at $4,225,000, plus a $50,000 bonus if he makes the All-Star team. The left-hander made $2,425,000 last season, spending most of the year in the starting rotation before working out of the bullpen during Kansas City's run to the World Series championship.
Duffy is expected to fill one of the starting rotation slots again this season.
Jarrod Dyson received a raise from $1,225,000 last year to $1,725,000 this season. He's in the mix to be one of the Royals' primary outfielders, along with Alex Gordon and Cain.
Drew Butera got a $1,162,500 contract that includes $12,000 in performance bonuses and $50,000 for an All-Star selection. Fellow backup catcher Tony Cruz, who made $775,000 with St. Louis last year, got a $975,000 contract with a $50,000 All-Star bonus after his offseason trade to Kansas City.
Left-hander Louis Coleman will make $725,000, the same as last season. The specialist reliever can also earn a $50,000 bonus for making the All-Star team.
Salary arbitration figures were exchanged on Friday. If the Royals are unable to come to terms with Moustakas and Cain, their hearings would be held in February.
Moustakas made $2.64 million last season, when he hit .284 with 22 homers and 82 RBIs en route to his first All-Star selection. But considering his status as one of the franchise's young cornerstones, the slick-fielding Moustakas is likely to get a significant raise.
Cain should also get a big bump after hitting .307 with a career-best 16 homers and 72 RBIs last season, and polishing his reputation as one of the game's premier defensive outfielders. Cain earned $2,725,000 while also getting selected for his first All-Star game.
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