A pair of right-handed pitchers are off the free agent market as of late Wednesday afternoon. According to reports, the San Francisco Giants have re-signed Sergio Romo to a two-year $15 million contract. Meanwhile the Kansas City Royals have signed former Pirates starter Edinson Volquez to a two-year $20 million deal.
The Romo news was broken by Foxsports Ken Rosenthal.
Sources: #SFGiants close to re-signing Romo.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 17, 2014
The 31-year-old Romo lost his closer’s job mid-way through last season, but finished the regular season and the playoffs strong in a setup role out of the Giants bullpen to help win his third World Series championship with the club. Overall he finished the year with a 3.72 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 59/12 K/BB ratio over 58 innings. Given the prices for other relievers this off-season, it would seem that the Giants got a bit of a hometown discount with Romo who has been part of the club for seven years now, and been one of the best relievers in baseball over that time.
Meanwhile it was CBSsports’ Jon Heyman who broke the Volquez signing.
royals and volquez in agreement, $20, 2 yrs.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) December 17, 2014
The 31-year-old Volquez really struggled in 2013, but had a bounce back 2014 season with the Pirates, finishing with a 3.04 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 192 2/3 innings. He helped Pittsburgh to a wild-card spot where they would lose to the Giants. Volquez is expected to be the fifth starter in Kansas City behind Yordano Ventura, Jason Vargas, Jeremy Guthrie, and Danny Duffy.
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