The Kansas City Royals have added to their outfield depth for 2021, agreeing on a one-year contract with veteran outfielder Jarrod Dyson. The deal, reached on Tuesday, according to MLB.com, was verified by the team on Friday.
Dyson spent the first seven seasons of his pro career with the Royals, stealing 176 bases in 500 games, while hitting for a .260 average. His most memorable moment with the franchise came in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series in New York, when he scored the title-clinching run in the top of the 12th inning at Citi Field.
In 2017, Kansas City traded Dyson to Seattle in exchange for right-hander Nate Karns. Soon thereafter, he would be in Phoenix with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he played in 2018 and 2019, before splitting time with the Pirates and White Sox last season.
The Royals have been bringing back key pieces of their championship core this offseason, with Dyson’s signing following those of veteran relievers Greg Holland and Wade Davis.
Dyson will join a mix of outfielders in KC that includes Andrew Benintendi, Michael A. Taylor, Whit Merrifield, Nick Heath, and Edward Olivares.