Ian Kennedy reportedly will get a back-loaded deal with Royals
Right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy is set to make $7.5 million in 2016, leaving the Royals with contract obligations of close to $120.5 million as the club prepares to report to spring training next month. As the Royals attempt to defend their World Series championship, the payroll now projects to bump up close to $130 million, the highest in team history.
The Royals have yet to announce the signing of Kennedy, who agreed to a five-year, $70 million deal earlier this month. But according to numbers reported Wednesday morning by MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, Kennedy will accept a back-loaded contract that pays him $13.5 million in 2017, $16 million in 2018, $16.5 million in 2019 and $16.5 million in 2020.
The deal is the second largest in club history, behind the four-year, $72 million deal signed by Alex Gordon last month.
The payroll numbers, at the moment, do not include third baseman Mike Moustakas, who filed for arbitration and remains unsigned. Moustakas reportedly asked for $7 million in the process, while the Royals countered with $4 million. The numbers also do not count players, such as outfielder Paulo Orlando, who likely will receive a one-year tender slightly more than the major-league minimum salary of $507,500.
Rustin Dodd: 816-234-4937, @rustindodd
Royals 2016 payroll
Outfielders
Alex Gordon, $12 million
Lorenzo Cain, $6.5 million
Jarrod Dyson, $1.725 million
Paulo Orlando, no contract (made $507,500 in 2015)
Infielders
Kendrys Morales, 1B/DH, $9 million
Eric Hosmer, 1B, $8.25 million
Omar Infante, 2B, $7.75 million
Alcides Escobar, SS, $5.25 million
Mike Moustakas, 3B, arbitration eligible (made $2.64 million in 2015)
Christian Colon, no contract (made $509,525 in 2015)
Raul A. Mondesi, no contract
Catchers
Salvador Perez, $2 million
Drew Butera, $1.1625 million
Tony Cruz, $975,000
Note: Royals likely to only keep two catchers on 25-man roster
Starting pitchers
Ian Kennedy, RH, $7.5 million
Edinson Volquez, RH, $9.5 million
Jason Vargas, LH, $8.5 million (will open 2016 on DL)
Kris Medlen, RH, $5.5 million
Chris Young, RH, $4.25 million
Yordano Ventura, RH, $1.2 million
Danny Duffy, LH, $4.225 million
Relief pitchers
Wade Davis, RH, $8 million
Joakim Soria, RH, $7 million
Luke Hochevar, RH, $5.5 million
Kelvin Herrera, RH, $2.55 million
Tim Collins, LH, $1.475 million
Louis Coleman, $725,000
Note: Royals likely to add another reliever
Sources: Kansas City Star reports, Cot’s Baseball Contracts
This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 9:11 AM with the headline "Ian Kennedy reportedly will get a back-loaded deal with Royals."