The Kansas City Royals and speedy outfielder Billy Hamilton have agreed to a one-year deal worth $5.25 million, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney and multiple reports.
Hamilton, who spent the first six years of his career with the Cincinnati Reds, can also make an additional $1 million in incentives, according to Olney.
Hamilton, 28, is one of the fastest players in MLB, stealing more than 50 bases for four straight seasons before dipping to 34 in 2018.
But getting on base has been a challenge for Hamilton, who has a career batting average of .236 and on-base percentage of .299.
Hamilton made $4.6 million last season with the last-place Reds, who did not tender him a contract, thus pushing him into the free-agent pool. He had been the Reds’ everyday center fielder for the past five seasons, with double-digit assists each of the past two years.
Drafted in the second round in 2009 by Cincinnati, he debuted in 2013 before stepping in full time in 2014, when he finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting to Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom. As a rookie, he batted .250 with 56 stolen bases, and had career-best numbers in home runs (6) and RBIs (48).