The Kansas City Royals continued to build their starting rotation for 2013, signing right-handed starting pitcher Felipe Paulino to a one-year deal, successfully avoiding an arbitration hearing, the Royals announced (via Twitter) on Thursday.

#Royals sign right-handed starting pitcher Felipe Paulino to a 1-year contract for 2013, avoiding arbitration.

According to Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star, Paulino signed for a $1.75 million base salary with performance bonuses that could potentially make his salary for 2013 at $2 million.

Paulino agrees to a one-year deal for $1.75 million with performance bonuses capable of boosting the value to $2 million.

A job well done to the Royals as the team found a way to sign Paulino to a base salary less than the $1.9 million he earned in 2011.

At 29 years of age, Paulino made just seven starts for the Royals before injury cut his season short. The right-handed starter did well, posting a 1.67 ERA across 37 2/3 innings of work with a 2.60 strikeout-to-walk ratio.