Royals
Report: Ervin Santana seeking five years, $100 million in free agency
Right-hander Ervin Santana, who entered free agency after a bounce-back year with the Royals, is seeking a five-year deal for $100 million,
according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
An asking price is just that — an asking price — but, if true, the Royals are likely to escalate their efforts to find a replacement rather than work to retain Santana, who was 9-10 with a 3.24 ERA in 32 starts.
Santana, who turns 31 in December, made $13 million last season in completing a five-year deal for $43 million signed with the Los Angeles Angels prior to the 2009 season.
The Royals recently tendered a qualifying offer to Santana, which means they will receive a draft pick between the first and second rounds of next June’s new-player draft if he signs elsewhere.
Qualifying offers this off-season are one-year deals for approximately $14.1 million. Santana has until 4 p.m. Monday to accept or reject the offer; there was never any expectation that he would accept it.
Any team that signs Santana, other than the Royals, will forfeit a draft pick. Teams that have one of the first 11 picks will lose their second-round choice; all others would surrender their first-round selection.
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