Maldonado, Royals reach 1-year deal (source)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Addressing the hole left by Salvador Perez's season-ending Tommy John surgery, the Royals have reached an agreement on a one-year, $2.5 million contract with free-agent catcher Martín Maldonado, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand on Saturday.

The deal, which is pending a physical, also includes $1.4 million in incentives. The club has not confirmed the deal.

Perez is a six-time All-Star, a five-time Gold Glove winner, a two-time Silver Slugger and the 2015 World Series MVP. He suffered a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow and had surgery on Wednesday. If all goes well, he could be ready to return for Opening Day in 2020.

The Royals had penciled in Cam Gallagher as the starting catcher and were looking to 22-year-old Meibrys Viloria as the backup. Viloria, the Royals’ No. 19 prospect, spent 2018 at Class A Advanced Wilmington before 10 games with the Royals in a September call-up. Gallagher, 26, has played 35 games with the Royals over the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Maldonado, 32, caught 117 games last season, splitting his time between the Angels and Astros. He has slashed .220/.289/.350 over an eight-year career and hit .225/.276/.351 in 2018 with nine home runs and 44 RBIs.

Maldonado has one of the strongest arms of any Major League catcher. His average arm strength last season, 87.5 mph, ranked third behind Jorge Alfaro and J.T. Realmuto. Maldonado won a Gold Glove with the Angels in 2017.

Before 2017, Maldonado spent his first six Major League seasons with the Brewers. He would bring a veteran presence behind the plate while the Royals continue to groom their younger catchers.

The Kid has clout

Viloria was the starting catcher Saturday against the D-backs, calling pitches for Jakob Junis’ Cactus League debut in a 13-5 Royals loss, with most of the offense coming in the late innings. Junis allowed a run on three hits and a walk while striking out four in three innings, plus three batters in the fourth.

Viloria was 2-for-3 with two runs, an RBI, and his second spring homer. He continued to show his prowess behind the plate.

“I’m confident with whatever he throws down,” Junis said of his chemistry with Viloria, who caught him twice last September. “He’s smart back there. He knows the game. I never thought twice out there with him today.”

Storen struggles

After two stronger spring outings, Drew Storen struggled, allowing three runs on four walks in one-third of an inning. Storen hasn’t pitched in the Majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2017.

“It takes time,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “When you don’t pitch for 18 months, it takes time to develop the ability to duplicate your mechanics, build up your arm's strength and just get everything working together. It’s to be expected.”

Royals, Cubs make trade

The Royals traded Minor League outfielder Donnie Dewees to the Cubs for right-handed pitcher Stephen Ridings late Friday.

Ridings, 23, has two seasons of pro ball under his belt. He was 0-2 with a 4.09 ERA in 12 games (eight starts) playing Rookie ball for the Cubs in 2017 and was 3-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 22 relief appearances for Class A Eugene in 2018.

Dewees was the Cubs’ second-round Draft pick in 2015 and was traded to the Royals in 2017 for right-hander Alec Mills. He split last season between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha, combining to hit .258 with eight homers and 54 RBIs.

Up next

The Royals host the Padres at 3:05 p.m. CT Sunday. Jorge López will start, to be followed by Michael Ynoa, Josh Staumont, Justin O'Conner and Richard Lovelady.