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Royals finalize 3-year, $25M deal with Soria

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

The Kansas City Royals have finalized a deal with reliever Joakim Soria, who now returns to the club where he spent the first five seasons of his big-league career. The deal is for three years and worth $25 million.

Andy McCullogh of The Kansas City Star reports Soria will earn $7 million in 2016, $8 million in 2017, $9 million in 2018, and has a $1-million buyout on a $10-million mutual option for 2019.

The World Series champions acted fast on replacing a bullpen piece in Ryan Madson, who reportedly signed a three-year deal with the Oakland Athletics Sunday morning.

Soria, 31, started the season for the Detroit Tigers before being dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 30 for infielder JaCoby Jones. His 72 appearances in 2015 set a new career high, and he sported his best ERA (2.53) since the 2010 season.

Soria is no stranger to the Royals after being selected in the 2006 Rule 5 draft from the San Diego Padres. From 2007-11, he recorded 160 saves before sitting out the 2012 season due to Tommy John surgery.

The right-hander joins Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera, Luke Hochevar, and Tim Collins among others in a bullpen that ranked second in reliever ERA (2.72) to only the Pirates last year.

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