Royals, Bobby Witt Jr. reach 11-year, $288.8 million extension

The Kansas City Royals and their promising shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. have agreed on a 11-year, $288.8 million contract extension, ESPN reported on Monday.

This deal includes an opt-out for Witt Jr. after the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th years, as well as a team option that can extend it by another three years for $89 million, according to ESPN.

In 2023, his second Major League Baseball (MLB) season, Witt Jr. hit .276 of at bats, .319 of on-base percentage and .495 of slugging percentage with 86 runs batted in, 30 home runs 49 stolen bases in 158 games for the Royals. He was also the American League (AL) triples leader.

The Royals haven't appeared in the playoffs for eight straight seasons, but the last time there were there, the team won the World Series title in 2014. They lost 106 games last season. The team signed two right-handed pitchers, Seth Lugo, on a three-year, $45 million contract, and Michael Wacha, on a two-year, $32 million deal, in free agency. The two plus left-hander Cole Ragans and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino who returned from shoulder surgery can provide Witt Jr. a better lineup protection.

Before Witt Jr., only six players with two or fewer years in the major league have signed nine-figure deals and they have all grown into star players: Fernando Tatis Jr., 14 years and $340 million with the San Diego Padres; Julio Rodriguez, 12 years and $209 million with the Seattle Mariners; Wander Franco, 11 years and $182 million with the Tampa Bay Rays; Mike Trout, six years and $144.5 million with the Los Angeles Angels; Corbin Carroll, eight years and $111 million with the Arizona Diamondbacks; and Ronald Acuna Jr., eight years and $100 million with the Atlanta Braves.