--RHP Zack Greinke, who recently exchanged arbitration figures with the Royals, settled his case by agreeing to a four-year, $38 million deal. Greinke had been seeking $4.4 million for 2009, while the club had offered $3.4 million. The deal runs through what would have been his first two years of free agency.
--C John Buck, who has lost his starting job to Miguel Olivo, signed a one-year $2.8 million contract to avoid arbitration. Buck, who hit .224 last year and .222 in 2007, made $2.2 million in 2008. --RHP Joel Peralta, who went 1-2 with a 5.98 ERA in 2008, avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract for $640,000. Peralta, 32, made $450,000 in 2008.
--The Royals offered arbitration to free agent 2B Mark Grudzielanek, who refused. That meant the Royals would pick up a compensation 2009 sandwich-round draft pick between the first and second round for losing Grudzielanek. Grudzielanek, however, has yet to sign with a club, so the Royals would not acquire the extra draft pick if he does not sign or if he signs a minor league contract and is invited to spring training.
--SS Mike Aviles, who hit .325 as a rookie, has been named to the World Baseball Classic Puerto Rico roster. Aviles, who began last season in the minors, will be the starting shortstop for Puerto Rico.
--OF/INF Mark Teahen has been selected to play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. His father is from Canada. Teahen batted .255 with 15 home runs and 31 doubles last season but struck out 131 times in 572 at-bats.
BY THE NUMBERS: 15 -- Home runs RHP Joel Peralta allowed in only 52 2/3 innings last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm real excited. I knew they wanted me to play, but I didn't know how much I was going to play. While I was in winter ball I actually got a chance to talk to the manager and he told me I was going to be the shortstop. When I heard that, I was like, 'Well, I'm definitely going.'" -- SS Mile Aviles on playing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.
