The Kansas City Royals have avoided arbitration with catcher Brett Hayes by agreeing to a one-year, $600k contract, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star:

#Royals reach one-year deal with C Brett Hayes for $600,000. Deal avoids possible arbitration case. Hayes now in line to be primary backup.

— Bob Dutton (@Royals_Report) November 20, 2012

Hayes, 28, was claimed off waivers from the Marlins earlier this month after four years in a back-up role in Miami. Hayes appeared in just thirty-nine games for the Marlins this past season, hitting just .202/.229/254 in one hundred eighteen plate appearances.

The righty-hitting backstop is the most likely candidate to take over the back-up role in Kansas City, as the club parted ways with long-time reserve catcher Brayan Pena on Tuesday.

Hayes is a career .217/.266/.361 hitter with eight home runs in one hundred forty-six games spread across four seasons, and has roughly league average numbers when it comes to throwing out would-be base stealers.