KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Right-hander Edinson Volquez already was thinking about the Royals even while he still was a member of the Pirates last October.
Volquez watched Kansas City's amazing playoff run and admits he was in a little bit of awe.
"I was thinking about them last (October) and thought, 'Why not be part of the team?'" Volquez said. "I thought, 'Why not help them win games?'
"I mean, we won in Pittsburgh, too. But I just wanted to be part of Kansas City."
And now Volquez is. Officially.
The Royals and Volquez, 31, agreed to a two-year deal valued at $20 million two weeks ago. But it didn't become official until he passed his physical Monday.
Volquez will make $7.5 million next year, $9.5 million in 2016, and there is a $10 million mutual option in 2017 with a $3 million buyout.
Royals manager Ned Yost told FOXSportsKansasCity.com last week that he was eager to get an up-close look at Volquez.
"He's got really good stuff," Yost said. "And he really came on last year."
Yost likely will pencil in Volquez as the No. 3 starter next season.
Volquez, meanwhile, simply is happy to have a chance to get to the World Series.
"When you see a team make the playoffs and the World Series, it is like a dream come true for players," he said. "I want to be part of that."
The Royals are hoping Volquez can contribute to that. He had a career year in 2014 with the Pirates, going 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA. He held opponents to a .235 batting average.
What worked for Volquez last season?
"I was really aggressive, attacking the hitter in the strike zone," he said. "I controlled my emotions a little better, too. I just stayed focused and I think I did a good job of that."
Volquez has admitted in the past that he sometimes lets his emotions get the best of him.
"You just keep growing up," he said. "I had a good pitching coach last year and he always helped me. He talked to me during the game all the time. He would tell me to keep the ball down, work in the zone.
"It really helped."
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
