The Kansas City Royals have announced the signing of their shortstop Alcides Escobar to a four-year contract extension through 2015. The deal includes club option for 2016 and 2017. Escobar, 25, is guaranteed 10.5M through 2015, but could earn a total of 21.75M if the Royals exercise both of their options.

Escobar would have been arbitration elegible after the 2012 season, so the deal buys out his final pre-arbitration season and his three arbitration years. The club options would cover Escobar's first two seasons as a free agent. Escobar came to the Royals in the Zack Greinke deal and posted a .254/.290/.343 line in his first year with the club. Considered a top defender, Escobar has a career UZR/150 of 5.9 at shortstop.

Escobar is the second Royals player to be locked up recently after Salvador Perez signed a five-year deal on February 27. However, Perez's contract hasn't started as the Royals have hoped, as an MRI Tuesday revealed the catcher has a torn meniscus in his left knee that requires surgery. He will be out at least 4-6 weeks and will start the season on the DL.