Kris Medlen has signed with the Royals, beginning his comeback from Tommy John surgery for the second time.
The team on Thursday announced a two-year contract with Medlen, who is nine months removed from the second major elbow surgery of his career. The deal is worth $8.5 million, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, with Medlen set to receive $2 million in the first year and $5.5 million in the second with a $10 million mutual option for 2017 that can be bought out for $1 million.
Medlen, 29, missed almost all of the 2011 season for Atlanta after undergoing his first Tommy John surgery.
The right-hander came back the next season and went 10-1 with a 1.57 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 138 innings, becomming a stalwart in the Braves' rotation. In 2013, Medlen was 15-12 with a 3.11 ERA in 197 innings.
The Braves declined to re-sign Medlen this offseason along with Brandon Beachy, who also missed all of 2014 with Tommy John surgery.
The Royals add Medlen to a rotation that includes Yordano Ventura, Jason Vargas, Jeremy Guthrie, Danny Duffy and recently signed Edinson Volquez,