What It Means:

Rios will receive a $1.5 million buyout and hit free agency. The Royals were banking on a bounce-back season when they signed him to a one-year, $11 million contract last winter, but he batted just .255 with four home runs and a .640 OPS over 105 games during the regular season, despite some impressive contributions in the playoffs. He'll now try his luck in free agency going into his age-35 season.

Rios posted a .278 wOBA in 2015, his worst mark since 2011. His power has all but disappeared over the past two seasons, as he has just 8 home runs in his last 932 plate appearances. His -0.66 nERD ranks 323rd among major leaguers for 2015.