Hochevar agrees to $1.76 million deal with Royals

Mar 2, 2010 - 10:08 PM By DOUG TUCKER AP Sports Writer

SURPRISE, Ariz.(AP) -- Luke Hochevar, the overall No. 1 draft pick of the 2006 amateur draft, agreed Tuesday to a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals that will pay him $1.76 million in the major leagues.

The deal includes a salary of $772,500 if Hochevar is in the minors, but he is out of options. He was coming off a $5.3 million, four-year contract that included a $3.5 million signing bonus. The $1.76 million salary represents the maximum 20 percent cut from his 2009 major league salary ($1,325,000) plus $875,000, which represents a prorated share of the $3.5 million signing bonus in his previous deal.

Hochevar was 7-13 in 25 starts for Kansas City last year with an ERA of 6.55. The 26-year-old right-hander did have a few encouraging bright spots, including an 80-pitch, complete-game victory over Cincinnati.

Kansas City also agreed to a one-year contract with right-hander Carlos Rosa. The 25-year-old made seven relief appearances in September for Kansas City and had a 3.38 ERA. He was also 2-8 with a 4.56 ERA in 43 relief appearances for Triple-A Omaha.

First baseman Billy Butler and second baseman Alberto Callaspo are the only players left unsigned in camp.