ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports that Cruz will receive $2.25 million for 2009, $3.25 million for 2010, and a $4 million team option for 2011 in the deal, with a $500,000 buyout.The right-handed Cruz could represent a major upgrade for the Royals' bullpen amid high hopes within the organization that Kansas City will take a long stride forward this year.The Royals traded middle relievers Leo Nunez and Ramon Ramirez after last season. With the deal complete, the Diamondbacks get two 2009 compensatory draft picks -- a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds and the Royals' second-round pick at around No. 55 overall.

Following a 2008 campaign in which Cruz struck out 71 batters in 51 2/3 innings with a 2.61 ERA for the Diamondbacks, he seemed to be in line for a big payday. But his Type A free-agent status coupled with the dire economic situation made teams reluctant to give up the high draft pick necessary to sign him.This resulted in a unique situation in which the union and the commissioner's office discussed a sign-and-trade deal that never came to fruition.

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