Report: Royals agree to terms with Kendrys Morales on 2-year, $17M deal
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The Kansas City Royals have reportedly secured free-agent hitter Kendrys Morales on a two-year deal worth $17 million.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported the contract includes incentives valued at $750,000 that could push the deal to a maximum of $18.5 million.
Morales, 31, hit just .218 with eight homers in 98 games last year for the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins after holding out for a contract during the first three months of the season. The Twins eventually signed him in June to a prorated salary of $12 million once he was no longer attached to draft-pick compensation.
The eight-year veteran adds pop to a lineup that ranked last in the majors in home runs in 2014. The switch-hitting slugger averaged 22 homers per season from 2009-13.
Morales figures to see most of his time at designated hitter after the Oakland Athletics signed Billy Butler to a three-year, $30-million deal this offseason.