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Royals lock up closer Soria
By BOB DUTTONThe Kansas City Star
MIAMI | When it comes to birthday presents, Royals closer Joakim Soria isn’t likely ever to get one better than this.
The Royals and Soria reached agreement Saturday on a six-year contract extension that runs through 2014. The deal includes $8.75 million in guaranteed money over the next three seasons with club options for 2012-14 that could boost the total value to $32.75 million.
It’s safe to say Soria should be in a celebratory mood today when he turns 24.
“Oh, I’m very happy,” he said. “It’s a big deal for me, for my career and my family. It’s a lot of security for me and my family.”
Soria said security was a key element in choosing to surrender at least two seasons of arbitration eligibility and perhaps two seasons of free-agent eligibility.
The deal was announced Saturday during the Royals’ 7-3 loss to the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium. It is the club’s first multiyear contract with a non-free agent since Dayton Moore became general manager on May 30, 2006.
“You evaluate a couple of different things,” Moore said. “Obviously, there’s the ability. What they’ve done and what you project them to do.
“In these types of deals, you look at the type of person they are — their work ethic and the type of teammates they are. You look at all of those factors, and we felt very good about signing him for the long term.”
Soria is making $426,500 this year in his second big-league season. The new deal boosts his salary to $1 million in 2009, $3 million in 2010 and $4 million in 2011. He gets $750,000 as a buyout if the Royals choose not to exercise a $6 million option for 2012.
The fourth year becomes guaranteed if Soria makes 55 appearances in 2011 or 110 in 2010-11. The total value for six years would be about $30 million if he remains a reliever.
The deal also contains accelerator clauses, based on innings pitched, that could boost its value by $2.75 million over six years if he becomes a starter.
“I’m happy for Soria,” manager Trey Hillman said, “and I’m happy the people I work for made that decision. I hope I’m around for that whole contract. It will be fun to watch him pitch that long for the Kansas City Royals.”
The extension removes the possibility of salary arbitration after 2009 and 2010. It also offers the possibility for the Royals to avoid a third year of arbitration and up to two years of free-agent eligibility.
Oddly, the deal announcement came one day after Soria surrendered his first runs of the season in Friday’s 7-6 victory over the Marlins. He gave up a two-run homer in the ninth to Jeremy Hermida before gaining his 11th save in 11 chances.
The deal follows a growing industry trend by clubs to lock in young players to long-term deals. Soria is the 25th player since Jan. 1 to sign a multiyear extension when he was still at least two years shy of free-agent eligibility.
Soria could be the first of several Royals in line for multiyear extensions if the club is to succeed in keeping its youthful core intact.
The Royals acquired Soria in December 2006 from San Diego in the Rule 5 draft. He was 2-3 with 17 saves and a 2.48 ERA last season in 62 games. He has a 1.04 ERA this season with 11 saves in 18 appearances.
Soria remains just one of six closers with at least seven save opportunities yet to blow one. His 11-for-11 success also matches the club record to start a season. Al Hrabosky opened 1978 with 11 in a row.
So there’s still a streak to monitor, along with a lot more dollar signs.