KANSAS CITY (AP) - Travis Wood wanted to start, and the Kansas City Royals had a need.
The 30-year-old left-hander and the Royals finalized a two-year, $12-million contract Wednesday. Coming off a World Series title with the Chicago Cubs, Wood hopes to earn a starting slot in a rotation shaken by the death of Yordano Ventura in a car accident.
"He's a winner," general manager Dayton Moore said. "That's what attracted us to Travis. We like the depth of our rotation. You can never have enough experience, enough depth, enough guys that will take the ball to do whatever they have to do to get people out. Travis Wood gives us an opportunity to do that, match up better."
Wood gets $4 million this year and $6.5 million in 2018, and the agreement includes and $8.5 mutual option for 2019 with a $1.5 million buyout.
He was 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA in a career-high 77 appearances with the Chicago Cubs last season, holding lefties to a .128 average.
Primarily a starter during his first five big league seasons, Wood was moved to the bullpen by the Cubs in 2015. As a free agent, he was seeking a team that would allow him to earn a rotation berth.
"I wanted to try to get back to it and they're going to give me an opportunity to do that, so we're going to give it everything I've got," Wood said. "Wherever I fit in is what I'll do."
He will compete for the fifth slot with a pair of right-handers: Chris Young was 1-8 with a 7.39 ERA in 13 starts last season, and Nathan Karns went 6-2 with a 4.56 ERA in 15 starts with Seattle.