Royals give reliever Soria three year, $8.75M extension

MIAMI -- Joakim Soria and the Kansas City Royals agreed to an $8.75 million, three-year contract extension on Saturday, a deal that includes three club options that could raise the value to about $32.75 million.

Soria allowed a run for the first time this season on Friday night, a two-run homer by the Marlins' Jeremy Hermida, but struck out Hanley Ramirez and Jorge Cantu for his 11th save. Soria threw 16 2/3 scoreless innings to start the season, one-third shy of the Royals record.

He carried a 1.04 ERA into Saturday night's game at Florida.

The right-hander, who turns 24 on Sunday, was picked up when the San Diego Padres left him unprotected in the 2006 winter meeting draft. He had a 2.48 ERA last year, third among major league rookies, and was 17-for-21 in save chances.

Soria, who is making $426,500 this season, gets $1 million in 2009, $3 million in 2010 and $4 million in 2011, and would receive a $750,000 buyout if the 2012 option is declined. His salaries in the option years depend on whether he remains a reliever or becomes a starter. If he remains a reliever, the options could raise the value to about $30 million.

The 2012 option would become guaranteed at $6 million if he has 55 appearances in 2011 or 110 in 2010-11 combined. It would become guaranteed at $6.5 million if he pitches 400 innings over the previous two seasons.