Royals agree to terms with relief pitcher Greg Holland

The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has come to terms with right-handed relief pitcher Greg Holland on a one-year contract, avoiding arbitration. Per club policy, terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

Holland, 29, was named to the American League All-Star team for the second-straight season and earned the first Mariano Rivera Award as the league's top relief pitcher in 2014. The righty finished third in the Major Leagues with 46 saves, to go along with a 1.44 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 62.1 innings over his 65 relief appearances.   He enters the 2015 season ranked second among Royals relievers with 381 career strikeouts, trailing only Jeff Montgomery (720). Holland has converted 93 of his 98 save opportunities since the start of 2013 (94.9 percent), which is the highest percentage in baseball during that span.

The signing of Holland leaves first baseman Eric Hosmer as the Royals' only arbitration-eligible player who has not agreed on a contract for 2015.