<
>

Jarrod Dyson avoids arbitration

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Royals and outfielder Jarrod Dyson have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract for $1,225,00.

Dyson, who is expected to be the Royals' fourth outfielder, can also make $25,000 for reaching 350 plate appearances and $50,000 if he's chosen for the All-Star Game.

The Royals have not yet confirmed the deal.

Dyson earned $530,000 last season, $30,000 over the major league minimum. He had asked for $1.6 million this season, and the Royals had countered at $900,000.

The former 50th-round amateur draft pick hit .269 with one homer and 24 RBIs in 290 plate appearances last season. But his real value came on the basepaths, where he had a career-high 36 steals.

The deal Tuesday leaves outfielder Lorenzo Cain, first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and pitchers Greg Holland, Kelvin Herrera and Danny Duffy as Kansas City's remaining players in arbitration.