The Kansas City Royals have signed catcher Salvador Perez to a five-year contract worth $7 million.

The team announced the deal Monday. The contract includes club
options for three more years that could keep Perez with the Royals
through the 2019. If Perez reached all the performance bonuses and
incentives, the contract could be worth $26.75 million over eight
years.

The 21-year-old Perez made his major league debut last Aug. 10
and hit .331 with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs and
21 RBIs in 39 games. He has been chosen as the best defensive
catcher in the Royals' organization the past three years.

Perez, who is from Venezuela, was signed by the Royals as a
non-drafted free agent on Sept. 27, 2006.