The Royals have agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract with free-agent right-hander Edinson Volquez, according to multiple reports. The club has not confirmed the deal, which was first reported by CBSSports.com.Signing Volquez could help the Royals make up for the likely loss of righty James Shields, who remains a free agent. The club already had moved to address its offense in recent days, signing outfielder Alex Rios and designated hitter Kendrys Morales. 
Volquez is coming off a bounceback season with the Pirates in which he went 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA over 192 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old walked 71 and struck out 140 while finishing 21st in the Majors in ground ball rate.A 10-year veteran, Volquez also has spent time with the Rangers, Reds, Padres and Dodgers. In 191 career games, including 185 starts, he has gone 66-59 with a 4.44 ERA and rates of 8.1 strikeouts and 4.5 walks per nine innings.After posting a 5.71 ERA for the Padres and Dodgers in '13, Volquez reestablished his value in Pittsburgh, cutting both his strikeout and walk rates, to 6.5 and 3.3 per nine innings, respectively.
Andrew Simon/ MLB.com
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