Royals signed RHP Juan Cruz, who had been with the Diamondbacks, to a two-year, $6 million contract with a club option for 2011.
Cruz is a nice value at this price and the Royals only have to give up a second-round pick for him, so it's a good move, one of the first the team has made this winter. According to the Kansas City Star, he will make $2.25 million this season, $3.25 million in 2010 and $4 million in 2011 if his option is picked up. Otherwise, he'd get a $500,000 buyout. With Cruz joining the team in a setup role, Joel Peralta, Jamey Wright and Robinson Tejeda figure to have much more difficult times finding spots.
This makes the Farnsworth deal look like even more shit. Cruz setting the table for Soria is an move by the Royals who are starting to look like a real respectable teams. I still don't know why they traded two young, cheap relievers away and then give Farnsworth money but the Royals did well to sign Cruz at a fair price. Cruz will outperform Farnsworth and for $1.5 less.