SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. _ The Royals on Monday declined to extend one-year, $17.2 million qualifying offers to designated hitter Kendrys Morales and right-handed pitcher Edinson Volquez before the 4 p.m. deadline, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Star.
Morales and Volquez will become free agents and are free to sign with any team starting on Tuesday.
Morales and Volquez previously opted to decline on mutual options in their contract for 2017. Volquez walked away from a $10 mutual option, while Morales said no to an $11 million option.
The Royals, meanwhile, did not want to risk paying more than $17 million for a starting pitcher who posted a 5.37 ERA and a designated hitter whose production declined in 2016.
A team who offers a pending free agent a qualifying offer receives a compensatory draft pick if he signs with another team.
