IN BRIEF : Royals’ Farr Wins $400,000 Raise

Right-hander Steve Farr, who saved 20 games for the Kansas City Royals last season, has agreed to a one-year contract raising his pay almost $400,000.

The agreement on a $605,000 contract Thursday kept the matter from going to arbitration and anointed Farr as the team’s closer out of the bullpen.

He had struggled the last five weeks of the season, when he had a 4.91 earned-run average in his final 14 games. As a result, the Royals had been shopping around for another bullpen ace.

But General Manager John Schuerholz now says he’s satisfied that Farr can do the job.

“We’re saying that Steve Farr is our stopper,” Schuerholz said. “He’s our guy to save games for us. If Steve can give us a year like he had last year, and some guys come through, I think we’ll get the job done.”

Farr, 32, who was on the verge of being let go two years ago, became the closer after the faltering veterans Dan Quisenberry and Gene Garber were released July 4.