Right-hander Ian Kennedy will not opt out of the final three years and $49 million of his contract with the Royals.
Kennedy, who turns 33 in December, went 5-13 with a 5.38 ERA for Kansas City in 2017. The season prior to that -- his first with the Royals -- he was 11-11 with a 3.68 ERA.
"It's not like I have been pitching that great," Kennedy said in August. "You build in those options in case you pitch great the whole year and then you're in a situation where you can make a decision."
Kennedy joined the Royals on a five-year, $70 million contract he signed in January 2016. Prior to that, he pitched for the Yankees, D-backs and Padres.