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SAN DIEGO - The Kansas City Royals and veteran slugger Kendrys Morales agreed to a $17 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press on Thursday.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to Morales passing a physical. Morales is expected to take over at designated hitter for Billy Butler, who left as a free agent and agreed to a $30 million, three-year deal with Oakland.Morales will get $6.5 million next year and $9 million in 2016. The deal includes an $11 million mutual option for 2017 with a $1.5 million buyout. Morales can make an additional $750,000 in performance bonuses in each of the first two seasons based on plate appearances: $50,000 for 375 and $100,000 apiece for 400 and each additional 25 until 550.The agreement highlighted a busy day at baseballs winter meetings for the Royals, who also acquired right-hander Jandel Gustave in a deal with the Red Sox.Boston selected Gustave off Houstons Triple-A roster in the Rule 5 draft.The Royals are still searching for a starting pitcher to replace James Shields, who is expected to sign elsewhere in free agency. Among the names that had been linked to the Royals, Ervin Santana, Justin Masterson and Brandon McCarthy had already agreed to join other teams.The Royals are also in the market for a right fielder after losing Nori Aoki to free agency, and have had talks with Melky Cabrera, who spent time in Kansas City during the 2011 season.Kansas City could also reunite with Aoki, who played well down the stretch, or go after less-pricy options such as Colby Rasmus. The Royals have few internal options to fill the void, but in a pinch could use Jarrod Dyson as an everyday centerfielder and move Lorenzo Cain to right.As for Morales, the Royals are taking a gamble that last season was an aberration.The 31-year-old designated hitter and first baseman hit just .218 with eight homers and 42 RBIs in 98 games with the Twins and Mariners. Those numbers were far below his career average of .271, and a shadow of his best year with the Angels, when he hit .306 with 34 homers in 2009.Just two years ago, though, Morales hit .277 with 23 homers for Seattle.That kind of production would help the Royals absorb the loss of Butler, who did not have his $12.5 million option picked up after one of the worst seasons of his career.Butler still hit .271, but he only had nine homers and 66 RBIs for a team that had a perilous lack of power. His playing time also decreased late in the season as he seemed to fall out of favour with manager Ned Yost, though he was back starting for the Royals run to the World Series.___AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta in Kansas City, Mo., contributed to this report. Robert Horry Jersey .ca. Hi Kerry, Welcome back! Im sure you heard Peter Forsbergs comments last week regarding Canadian referees in the gold medal game. Seems to me that he was questioning the integrity and impartiality. Eric Gordon Jersey .C., has been named Canadas top female official, winning the 2014 SOC Award of Excellence. Cranes career as a figure skating judge has spanned over 40 years. http://www.therocketsofficial.com/Authen...ets-Jersey/.com) - The Toronto Raptors are paying Rudy Gay a visit on Wednesday night when they head into the Sleep Train Arena to take on the Sacramento Kings. Clyde Drexler Jersey . The 22-year-old slugger, who is no stranger to adversity, made up for it at the end. Steve Francis Jersey . Six years of waiting are finally over for the Dallas defenceman. Daley had a goal and an assist, Kari Lehtonen recorded his fifth shutout of the season, and the Stars clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 with a 3-0 victory against the St.NEW YORK -- Big league pitchers might feel safer on the mound this season. Major League Baseball has approved a protective cap for pitchers, hoping to reduce the damage from line drives to head that have brought some terrifying and bloody scenes in the last few years. The heavier and bigger new hat was introduced Tuesday and will be available for testing during spring training on a voluntary basis. Major leaguers and minor leaguers wont be required to wear it -- comfort is likely to be a primary concern. "Obviously, itd be a change," two-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers told the MLB Network. "Im definitely not opposed to it." "I think itd take a lot of getting used to," he said. "You dont look very cool, Ill be honest." The safety plates made by isoBLOX are sewn into the hat and custom fitted. They weigh an extra six to seven ounces -- a baseball weighs about five ounces, by comparison -- and offer protection to the forehead, temples and sides of the head. Theyll make the hats about a half-inch thicker in the front and around an inch wider on the sides. Several pitchers have been hit in the head by line drives in the recent seasons. Brandon McCarthy sustained a brain contusion and skull fracture after being struck in 2012 and Doug Fister was hit during the World Series that October. Torontos J.A. Happ and Tampa Bays Alex Cobb were sidelined after being hit last year. McCarthy tweeted that he had already tried out the fortified cap and that it was "headed in right direction but not game ready." Said Arizona reliever Brad Ziegler: "I think theyre on the right track, but the hat they approved isnt remotely close to comfortable enough to wear in games." In an email to The Associated Press, he said, "If youre not 100 per cent focused on executing your pitches, you have almost no chance of success. And that hat is uncomfortable enough that it would be a big distraction to wear it." "We talked to a lot of guys who had been through this, and they provided a wealth of information to help us," said Bruce Foster, CEO of the 4Licensing Corporation, parent company of isoBLOX. "We went through a myriad of different designs to develop this." Foster said the cap went through extensive testing and provided protection from line drives up to 90 mph in the front of the head and 85 mph on the side. Line drives in the majors have been clocked at even faster rates. While the hat is "slightly bigger" than a regular baseball cap, Foster said: "Its not going to be a Gazoo hat." Several years ago, MLB introduced larger batting helmets that offered increased safety. But big leaguers mostly rejected them, saying they looked funny and made them resemble the Great Gazoo, a character on the ";The Flintstones" cartoon series.dddddddddddd In recent seasons, pitchers have said they would try padded caps, provided they werent too cumbersome. "You see guys get hit with line drives. I know in the last couple of years there have been several of them. So it happens. You want to be wary of it," All-Star closer Glen Perkins of the Minnesota Twins said. "Player safety is important. I think finding a solution is good." "But by the sounds of what they have, I dont know if thats entirely feasible to go out there with basically a helmet on your head and pitch. Without seeing it or trying it on, I hate to make a blanket judgment. But just thinking out loud, that seems a little bit much. Just the bulkiness," he said. In December 2012, MLB medical director Dr. Gary Green presented ideas on protective headgear to executives, doctors and trainers. The prototypes under study included some made of Kevlar, the high-impact material often worn by military and law enforcement and NFL players. Several companies tried without success to make a product that would be approved by MLB and the players union. While isoBLOX was first to get the OK, other firms still might submit proposals. Foster said the caps design diffuses the impact of being hit, rather than only absorbing the shock. The technology will be available on the retail market for ballplayers of all ages in a form of a skull cap. A memo from MLB will advise teams that the caps are available in spring training, and pitchers who express interest in testing will be fitted. MLB can require minor leaguers to wear it, but has no plans now to do that. "I think it will be one of those things that people will wear them when they have to wear them. Maybe a guy here or a guy there," Perkins said. Star closer Grant Balfour said, "I am always appreciative of anything that will make the game safer. That being said, I may try it. Just not sure yet until I see it. Has to fit with a cap and be comfortable." MLB didnt make the use of helmets or protective cap inserts mandatory for batters until the National League required them for the 1956 season. Helmets werent required until the 1971 season and, even then, they werent mandatory for players already in the big leagues. An earflap on the side of the head facing the pitcher was required for new players starting in 1983. "Its nice to see any sport take precautions to prevent injury," San Francisco reliever Javier Lopez said. "That being said, I look forward to seeing what the finished product looks like. And if it helps just one pitcher, then its worth it. Its always nice to have safety nets." Added Boston reliever Craig Breslow: "Im not certain how many players will be testing the new equipment, but I think all at least appreciate the effort. " ' ' '