Kansas City Royals and Adalberto Mondesi agree to contract terms for 2022
Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi and the club reached an agreement on Monday evening a one-year deal that will avoid salary arbitration for this season.
The new deal will pay Mondesi, 26, a salary of $3 million in 2020, according to a source with knowledge of the agreement. Mondesi has one year remaining of eligibility for salary arbitration before he can become an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 season.
Mondesi, who played just 35 games last season because of injury, entered spring training camp as the projected starter at shortstop on an infield that could include Nicky Lopez, who ranked among the top defensive shortstops in the majors last season in Mondesi’s place, as well as highly ranked prospect Bobby Witt Jr. Witt has primarily played shortstop in the minor leagues.
A 6-foot-1, 200-pound switch hitter, Mondesi ranks among the fastest players in the majors. In 35 games last season spread between three stints on the injured list, Mondesi hit six home runs, eight doubles, one triple, scored 19 runs, stole 15 bases and slashed .230/.271/.452.
Mondesi has played in 343 major-league games since 2016. He has posted a slash line of .249/.283/.419 with 38 home runs, 128 stolen bases and 177 runs scored during his time in the majors.
The Royals remaining arbitration-eligible players are left fielder Andrew Benintendi, starting pitcher Brad Keller, relief pitchers Scott Barlow, Amir Garrett and backup catcher Cam Gallagher.
