Bobby Witt Jr. agrees to 14-year contract with the Kansas City Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have locked up their star shortstop on a record long-term deal.
The Royals have signed Bobby Witt Jr. to a 14-year deal, with 11 years in guaranteed money.
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ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported the deal is worth up to $377.7 million. The 11-year guarantee comes out to $288.7 million.
MLB Network insider Mark Feinsand broke down the reported payment structure. Witt Jr. will earn $2 million this season, $7 million in 2025, $13 million in 2026, $30 million in 2028 and $35 million a year starting in 2029 until 2035 when it’s slightly decreases to $33 million.
Witt Jr. is now the highest-paid Royal of all time pulling in over $26 million per year in base salary. That tops the $20 million per year average that Royals catcher Salvador Perez has earned ever since he signed his four-year, $82 million contract in 2021.
“From the moment I was drafted in 2019, the entire Royals organization and fans have treated me and my family like their own,” Witt Jr. said in a statement. “This city and this team have felt like home since day one, and it’s an honor to have the opportunity to continue to represent all of KC.”
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“I am incredibly grateful to the Sherman family and the Royals front office for believing in me, and I promise to do everything in my power to help bring championship baseball back to Kansas City!”
This past season, Witt Jr. led the Royals in hits, triples, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, OPS, runs and games played.
Through his first two seasons, he’s the only player in MLB history to record a combination of 50 home runs and 79 steals.
