Royals' All-Star bonuses could really add up
SEATTLE -- One might think Royals players would take their All-Star appearance bonuses and throw a big party for the fans, much like Eric Hosmer and some of his teammates did last October when they picked up a $15,000 bar tab for the fans at McFadden's in Kansas City's Power & Light District.
Hey, that still might happen. But a few of the Royals players said they'd likely go a different direction with their bonuses: Put it away in savings.
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The Royals' front office generally puts into player contracts a standard $50,000 bonus for making the All-Star Game.
But an All-Star selection would mean much more for second baseman Omar Infante, who would get a boost of $250,000 in 2016 and $250,000 in 2017 added to his contract.
Catcher Salvador Perez stands to benefit more than others, too. Perez has a points bonus system in which he is awarded a point for making the All-Star Game, winning a Gold Glove, winning the Silver Slugger Award and being in the top 15 in MVP voting. If he were to get all four points this year and next, he could get $5 million in bonuses from 2017 to 2019. Just for the All-Star points, he could get $50,000 more in 2016, $100,000 more in 2017 and $200,000 more in 2018.
Video: BOS@KC: Perez belts solo homer into the fountain
The rest of the Royals would get the standard $50,000, except for reliever Wade Davis, whose contract came from Tampa Bay -- he would get $25,000.
No matter the amount, several Royals said they wouldn't get too crazy with the bonuses.
"I'm pretty tight with my money," center fielder Lorenzo Cain said, smiling. "I'm going to save it. I've got a family now. I've got to watch it. I'm not the type to just go spend it wildly anyway."
Third baseman Mike Moustakas, too, said he would be conservative with it.
"We just got a new house," Moustakas said. "I'd probably put it into that, if I'm lucky enough to be selected. I couldn't get crazy with it anyway -- my wife wouldn't let me."
Royals left fielder Alex Gordon also isn't a wild spender.
"I pretty much save everything I get," Gordon said. "When I make it, it goes right into savings.
"But also, my thinking has been that I use the money to bring my whole family to the game and do it right with the flights and a nice hotel, just to make the experience really good for them. I mean, I've got a pretty big family with my brothers, my own family, my mom and dad, and my wife's family. It adds up pretty quickly."
Worth noting
• The Royals on Monday called up right-hander Michael Mariot from Triple-A Omaha and optioned Aaron Brooks, who pitched in long relief Sunday, back to Omaha.
Mariot will take Brooks' role in long relief.