Alex Rios signs one year deal with Kansas City Royals

Alex Rios and the Kansas City Royals have come to terms on a one year, $11 million deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

Last season for the Texas Rangers, Rios batted .280/.311/.398 in 521 plate appearances with just 4 home runs and 17 stolen bases. It was a down year for the 33 year old and a thumb issue ended his season after 131 games. The Rangers declined a club option for 2015, making him a free agent.

Prior to this past season Rios had strung together two consecutive solid years and is a prime candidate to bounce back on a one year deal, which poses little risk to the Royals. The club seems to have found their replacement for Nori Aoki, who remains available as one of the few remaining corner outfielders. It isn’t necessarily a big upgrade at the position, as both Aoki and Rios put together similar statistical seasons in 2014.

Rios will likely be the everyday right fielder for the Royals this coming season. The option for a platoon is there for the club to explore, especially as they may want to give an expanded role to Jarrod Dyson or potentially Reymond Fuentes, who they picked up earlier this offseason.

With the signing of Rios in Kansas City, that leaves Aoki, Michael Morse, and Colby Rasmus as the best outfielders still available. The San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Baltimore Orioles are still in the market for a corner outfielder and may have to look at one of these players to address their needs. As for Rios, he’ll look to get back on track this season for the Royals who are hoping for a repeat of the success they found this past season.