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Royals Lock Up Soria Through 2012
By Chad Gramling | May 18, 2008
I’ve blogged a lot about Joakim Soria on this blog because he may go down to be one of the best Rule-5 pickups in MLB history. Just days after the Royals plucked him from the Padres organization after being left unprotected in the 2006 Rule-5 Draft, Soria pitched a perfect game in the Mexican League. He broke into the majors that very season and had a very impressive year.
This year, he’s been lights out. He has a 1.04 ERA this season with 11 saves in 18 appearances. His 11-for-11 success streak also matches the Royals club record to start a season.
The Kansas City Royals are now building upon some good decisions in turning around what has been one of the most pathetic baseball teams in the last decade or two. Today, they locked up Soria through 2012 (hat tip to MLB Rumors). It was a wonderful birthday present for the former Wizards pitcher.
The deal includes $8.75 million in guaranteed money over the next three seasons with club options for 2012-14 that could boost the total value to $32.75 million . . . Soria is making $426,500 this year in his second big-league season. The new deal boosts his salary to $1 million in 2009, $3 million in 2010 and $4 million in 2011. He gets $750,000 as a buyout if the Royals choose not to exercise a $6 million option for 2012 . . . The fourth year becomes guaranteed if Soria makes 55 appearances in 2011 or 110 in 2010-11. The total value for six years would be about $30 million if he remains a reliever.
