BlueBaron

SURPRISE, ARIZONA (TICKER) —Closer Joakim Soria and shortstop Tony Pena Jr. were among seven Kansas City Royals to sign one-year contracts Wednesday.

Also signing were righthanders Ryan Braun, Kyle Davies, Leo Nunez, Joel Peralta and Carlos Rosa.

The 23-year-old Soria, a Mexican righthander, went 2-3 with a 2.48 ERA and 17 saves as a rookie last season after replacing the injured Octavio Dotel as Kansas City’s closer.

Pena, 26, batted .267 with two home runs and 47 RBI in 152 games for Kansas City in 2007, his first full season in the majors.

Soria, Pena Jr. sign Royals contracts - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

__________________