Last Updated on October 31, 2011 5:38 pm by admin
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Royals have picked up their club option on Joakim Soria, keeping the two-time All-Star closing games for them next season.
The option for 2012 is valued at $6 million. The Royals announced the move Monday. They also hold options for 2013 of $8 million and 2014 for $8.75 million, with $750,000 buyouts each year.
Soria struggled at times last season, going 5-5 with 28 saves and a career-worst 4.04 ERA. He was coming off a season in 2010 in which the hard-throwing right-hander had 43 saves and a 1.78 ERA.
Still, there was little doubt the Royals would exercise their option on Soria after they held onto him at the July 31 trading deadline. He’s established himself as one of the game’s premier closers at just 27 years old, with 160 saves over the past five seasons.