The Kansas City Royals have signed catcher Brayan Pena to a 1-year deal worth $875 thousand, avoiding arbitration, according to the team.

Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star says Pena is familiar with new bench coach Chino Cadahia, and Jeff Zimmerman of Royals Review proposes an awesome trade scenario with the New York Yankees:

• Royals agree on one-year deal with Brayan Pena - KansasCity.com
  "The contract is worth $875,000 and allows the Royals to avoid arbitration with Pena, who played in 72 games last season while serving as the club’s primary backup behind the plate.The Royals’ list of arbitration-eligible players without a deal for next season is now at six: right-handed pitchers Luke Hochevar and Felipe Paulino; left-hander Jonathan Sanchez; infielder Chris Getz, and outfielders Alex Gordon and Mitch Maier."

• Twitter / @rustindodd -"Just talked to Brayan Pena. Excited about the new deal. Says new bench coach Chino Cadahia was a father-figure type in Atlanta. More coming."
• Dayton Moore, Get Brian Cashman on the Phone. Trade Soria for Burnett and Hughes. - Royals Review
  "With the Yankees trading for Michael Pineda and signing Hiroki Kuroda this past weekend, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett look to be the odd men out of the Yankees rotation. With the Yankees having an excess of starting pitchers, I propose the following trade with the Yankees..."