Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year contract for $12.25 million.
The 2017 salary represents a $4 million raise for Hosmer, who is coming off a season in which he hit .266 with a career-best 25 home runs and 104 RBIs. Hosmer slugged .433 and had a .328 on-base percentage.
He was the MVP of the 2016 All-Star Game.
Hosmer becomes a free agent after 2017.
Royals pitchers Danny Duffy and Kelvin Herrera face arbitration cases. Friday marks the deadline for clubs to exchange formal salary offers with arbitration-eligible players.