KC re-signs Soler, Dozier, three more

The Royals agreed to one-year contracts with OF/DH Jorge Soler, first baseman/outfielder Hunter Dozier, right-handers Jesse Hahn and Jakob Junis and outfielder Franchy Cordero, but the club non-tendered third baseman Maikel Franco, infielder Jeison Guzman, infielder/outfielder Erick Mejia and outfielder Bubba Starling by Wednesday's 7 p.m. CT deadline.

Left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin and right-handed pitcher Carlos Sanabria, who were designated for assignment earlier this week, were not tendered Major League contracts.

The power-hitting Soler's deal is for $8.05 million, a source told MLB.com.

Dozier's deal, which is guaranteed and was announced by the club, will pay him $2.72 million plus incentives, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, while Hahn will earn $1.75 million and up to an additional $350,000 in incentives. Junis will earn $1.7 million, and Cordero will earn $800,000. Franco was in line for a significant salary bump after leading the team in RBIs in 2020 with 38.

Hahn would have entered his third year of arbitration before agreeing to terms, while Dozier, Cordero and Junis were set to enter arbitration for the first time.

Hahn, 31, was excellent in limited action in 2020, surrendering just one earned run and striking out 19 hitters in 17 1/3 innings. He has yet to pitch a full season in a Royals uniform, as he injured the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow after Kansas City acquired him in a trade before the ’18 season and underwent a procedure to repair the ligament later that year. Hahn owns a career 4.12 ERA across 77 Major League appearances, and he is expected to be a bullpen piece for the Royals next year.

Junis, 28, made eight appearances (including six starts) in 2020, finishing with a 6.39 ERA and seven home runs allowed across 25 1/3 innings. He has been a major rotation piece for the Royals since entering the Majors in ’17, going 27-31 with a 4.78 ERA across 89 career appearances and 83 starts. Junis could be moving to the bullpen in ’21 after Kansas City signed free agent Mike Minor.

Cordero, 26, was acquired in July via trade with the Padres that sent reliever Tim Hill to San Diego. A toolsy outfielder regarded for his power and speed, Cordero hit .211 with two home runs across his first 16 games in a Royals uniform. He is expected to compete for a starting outfield job in Spring Training.

The Royals still have two arbitration-eligible players remaining unsigned: shortstop Adalberto Mondesi and staff ace Brad Keller.

"[We] continue to work on more players [to sign],” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “Some [deals] are a little trickier. So far the players we have been able to work deals with have been very realistic about their position in the open market. We appreciate their cooperation.”