Royals, pitcher Kelvin Herrera agree to two-year contract

KANSAS CITY, MO -- The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has come to terms with right-handed pitcher Kelvin Herrera on a two-year deal, avoiding arbitration. Consistent with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. 

Herrera, 25, put together an outstanding 2014 campaign, going 4-3 with a 1.41 ERA (11 ER in 70. IP) in 70 appearances. His ERA ranked fifth among Major League relievers last season, which included a streak of 31.0 consecutive scoreless innings from June 27 to September 16, the second-longest in the A.L. The righty did not allow a home run in 2014, extending his streak to 95.0 consecutive innings without surrendering a roundtripper, dating back to July 28, 2013. Herrera is 13-14 with a 2.56 ERA and 210 strikeouts in 214.2 innings in his big league career.

The signing of Herrera leaves the Royals with two unsigned arbitration-eligible players: pitcher Greg Holland and first baseman Eric Hosmer.