Royals agree to sign Edinson Volquez

The Kansas City Royals have agreed to sign right-hander Edinson Volquez, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports and Chris Cotillo of SB Nation's MLB Daily Dish. 

Volquez's deal is for two-years and is worth $20 million, Heyman and Cotillo reported. 

He will join the Royals rotation who will be almost guaranteed to lose James Shields through free agency. As it currently stands, Yordano Ventura, Jason Vargas, Jeremy Guthrie, and Danny Duffy are starting for the Royals on the mound, while Brandon Finnegan may have a shot to make the rotation out of Spring Training. Volquez adds depth to Kansas City.

The 31-year-old Volquez completely reinvented his career with the Pirates in 2014. He posted a 5.71 ERA in 170.1 innings pitched back in 2013, after being a 2008 All-Star and finishing fourth in the Rookie of the Year award voting. The Pirates signed him to a one-year deal to prove if he could still pitch well, and he definitely proved himself, getting him a $10 million annual average value this offseason.

He went 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA in 192.2 innings with the Pirates this past season, striking out 140 and walking 71. Volquez posted a 4.15 FIP, suggesting that his ERA was over a run inflated, due to good defense behind him. That may be a factor with Kansas City in 2015.

The Royals have been busy this offseason, signing Kendrys Morales, Alex Rios, and now Edinson Volquez. All are medium-risk, high-reward signings that could really help them get back to the postseason and even beyond in 2015. The American League champions are making smaller-type moves that could really pay off in the long run. 

--Devan Fink

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