Morales Agrees to Lucrative, Two-Year Deal with the Kansas City Royals

Kendrys Morales has landed a royal MLB deal…

The 31-year-old Cuban professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter has reportedly agreed to a $17 million, two-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, according to the Associated Press.

Kendrys Morales

The AP source spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to Morales passing a physical.

Morales is expected to take over at designated hitter for Billy Butler, who left as a free agent and agreed to a lucrative deal with the Oakland Athletics.

Morales will get $6.5 million next year and $9 million in 2016. The deal includes an $11 million mutual option for 2017 with a $1.5 million buyout.

Morales can make an additional $750,000 in performance bonuses in each of the first two seasons based on plate appearances: $50,000 for 375 and $100,000 apiece for 400 and each additional 25 until 550.

Morales’s deal comes despite a poor performance last season.

He hit just .218 with eight homers and 42 RBIs in 98 games with the Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners. Those numbers were far below his career average of .271, and a shadow of his best year with the Los Angeles Angels, when he hit .306 with 34 homers in 2009.

Just two years ago, though, Morales hit .277 with 23 homers for Seattle.

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