OF Alex Rios signs $11M deal

ByJerry Crasnick ESPN logo
Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The Kansas City Royals have reached agreement with free-agent outfielder Alex Rios on a one-year, $11 million contract, two league sources confirmed to ESPN.com.

Rios, 33, is a .278 career hitter with 165 home runs in 11 big-league seasons with Toronto, the Chicago White Sox and Texas. He batted .280 for the Rangers last season, but produced only four home runs and 54 RBIs in 131 games.

Rios will fill the right-field void in Kansas City created by the departure of Norichika Aoki to free agency. He joins Kendrys Morales, who agreed to a two-year, $17 million deal last week, as the second free-agent hitter to sign with the Royals this month.

Billy Butler, Kansas City's long-time designated hitter, left the American League champs to sign a three-year, $30 million deal with Oakland in November.

CBSSports.com was first to report Rios' deal with Kansas City.

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