The Royals announced today that the club has agreed to terms on a one-year Major League contract with right-handed pitcher Felipe Paulino for the 2013 season, avoiding arbitration. 

Paulino, 29, was 3-1 with a 1.67 ERA in seven starts for the Royals in 2012.  He made his last Major League start on June 6, missing the remainder of the season after undergoing ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow on July 3.  The native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic was acquired from Colorado on May 26, 2011.  He has appeared in 93 Major League games (61 starts) with Houston, Colorado and Kansas City.