|
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) #8212;Joakim Soria(notes) will keep closing games for the KansasCity Royals into next season.The team announced Monday that it had exercised its option on the two-timeAll-Star, which is valued at $6 million for 2012. The Royals also hold optionsfor 2013 of $8 million and 2014 for $8.75 million, with $750,000 buyouts eachyear. #8220;This decision was more of a formality, football fixtures #8221; Royals general manager DaytonMoore said. #8220;Joakim has been an exceptional closer for the last five years. Forus to put together a strong pitching staff in 2012, it is important that Joakimremain a key component at the back end of the bullpen. #8221;Soria struggled at times last season, going 5-5 with 28 saves and acareer-worst 4.03 ERA. But he was better after June 1, when he converted football fixtures 21 of23 save opportunities with a 2.48 ERA.Soria was coming off a 2010 season in which the right-hander had 43 savesand a 1.78 ERA.There was little doubt the Royals would exercise their option on Soria afterthey held onto him at the July 31 trading deadline. He #8217;s established himself asone of the game #8217;s premier closers at just 27 years old, with 160 saves in 180chances over the past fi football fixtures ve seasons. His career ERA is just 2.40.The Royals figure to have their young bullpen largely intact going intospring training, although some of the pieces may get a chance to earn a spot inthe starting rotation. Among them are All-Star right-hander Aaron Crow(notes) and youngleft-hander Everett Teaford(notes).Right-handers Greg Holland(notes), Louis Coleman(notes), Blake Wood(notes) and Kelvin He football fixtures rrera(notes) areexpected back in the bullpen, along with left-hander Tim Collins(notes). Follow Yahoo! Sports' MLB coverage on Twitter. Updated 3 hours, 32 minutes ago football fixtures
|