The Kansas City Royals have signed first baseman Mike Jacobs to a one-year contract for 2009, avoiding arbitration. Consistent with club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed. Jacobs was the final Royals player eligible for arbitration this winter. Jacobs, 28, hit .247 (118-for-477) with a career-high 32 home runs and 93 RBI for the Marlins in 2008. He was acquired by Kansas City for relief pitcher Leo Nunez on Oct. 30 of last year. The left-handed hitter and right-handed thrower recorded 27 doubles, two triples and scored 67 runs in 141 games. His 32 homers were the second-most among left-handed hitters in Marlins history, trailing Carlos Delgado's 33 in 2005. Jacobs' 18 home runs away from home in 2008 ranked tied for seventh in the Majors. He homered once every 14.9 at bats, which ranked 10th in the Majors and among first basemen trailed only Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols.