The Kansas City Royals and pitcher Seth Lugo agree to 2-year extension, AP source says

KANSAS CITY Mo AP The Kansas City Royals and right-hander Seth Lugo have agreed to a two-year extension that includes a vesting option for the season a person familiar with the negotiations reported The Associated Press on Sunday night The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal which presumably takes one of the bulk talked-about names on the transaction sphere off the table ahead of this week s deadline had not been officially reported The -year-old Lugo made his first All-Star Event and won his first Gold Glove last season when he went - with a ERA in the first year of a two-year million deal that included a athlete option for next season Lugo has followed that up with an even better start to this season going - with a ERA through outings for Kansas City Rumors surfaced of several contenders interested in trading for Lugo ahead of Thursday s deadline and the fact that the Royals have been hanging on the fringe of contention themselves left countless wondering whether they would be buyers or sellers It appears that they are going to make a push for a second consecutive playoff appearance The Royals acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Diamondbacks for reliever Andrew Hoffmann late Saturday shoring up a weakness in the lineup by adding a right-handed bat Now they have indicated that Lugo remains big a part of their future with his extension an especially timely one given it came the same day that All-Star pitcher Kris Bubic went on the injured list Kansas City also is missing starters Cole Ragans and Michael Lorenzen due to injuries Both are expected back at particular point in August and the Royals are hopeful that their return to the rotation will propel them down the stretch run After beating the Guardians on Sunday the Royals were four games back of the final American League wild-card spot AP MLB https apnews com hub mlb Source