Robert Murray of FanRag reports that the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a deal with former-Met Lucas Duda, pending a physical. Jon Heyman, also of FanRag, reports it is a one-year, major league deal and is worth $3.5 million.
Duda, 31, hit .246/.347/.532, 129 OPS+ with 21 doubles, 17 home runs and 37 RBI with the Mets in 2017 before he was traded in July to the Tampa Bay Rays for relief prospect Drew Smith.
The left-handed slugger struggled mightily though with the Rays slashing only .175/.285/.44 with seven doubles, 13 home runs and 27 RBI in 52 games.
Duda’s defense at first base slipped a little in 2017 with -1 DRS in 792 innings after posting 4 DRS in 2016 and 5 DRS in 2015.
Lucas was a .246/.343/.457, 122 OPS+ hitter in his career with the Mets and had an OPS+ of at least 116 in his last four seasons with the team.
The Mets were rumored to be considering signing the first baseman this offseason before adding Adrian Gonzalez instead.
