Major League Baseball

Price very high for Royals closer Soria

Published Jul. 28, 2010 9:21 p.m. ET

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If certain big-market teams want to trade for Royals shutdown man Joakim Soria, the right-hander can ask an important business question.

Am I going to close? 

Soria’s $6 million contract option for 2012 will vest automatically with 55 games finished in 2011. But it’s hard to finish that many games if you’re not the closer.

That’s why his no-trade clause offers him protection for deals to several teams that have veteran closers.

Those clubs, according to a major league source, are the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Phillies, Cardinals and Cubs.

That’s not to say Soria would refuse a deal to any of those clubs. But the clause gives him leverage to demand remuneration if a new team intends to have him pitch somewhere other than the ninth inning.

Soria could theoretically demand that his options are guaranteed as a condition of any trade to those teams. (His deal also includes club options worth $8 million in 2013 and $8.75 million in 2014.)

Of course, all this assumes that Kansas City would trade Soria. And for now, the price is very high.

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