Santiago Signs With Royals

The Kansas City Royals have signed Benito Santiago to a two-year contract worth $4.3-million. The deal had been agreed upon, in principle, earlier this week, but formalities had to be worked out before the team made the official announcement. Santiago will be the Royals everyday catcher. In his seventeen-year career, Santiago has become known as a stabilizing force for young pitchers. Santiago said yesterday, “I think everywhere I’ve been I’ve been able to straighten them out, their ERA goes down. I get close to those guys very quick, very fast and I can see that here.” But his value is felt at the plate as well as behind it–Santiago hit .279 in 2003.