The Kansas City Royals locked up considered one of their younger stars when shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. signed an 11-year, $288.7 million extension forward of the 2024 season. One other burgeoning star has joined Witt as a long-term cornerstone
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Royals and infielder Maikel Garcia have agreed to a five-year extension with a crew choice for a sixth yr. Per MLB.com’s Anne Rogers, the extension is value a assured $57.5M, and the crew choice and escalators may get it into $85M territory.
Garcia had a breakout marketing campaign in 2025. He posted profession highs in just about each class, producing a .286/.351/.449 batting line with 16 homers and 39 doubles over his 666 plate appearances whereas stealing 23 bases. Garcia was an All-Star for the primary time and gained the AL Gold Glove at third, main the league with 12 runs saved.
Maikel Garcia is creating right into a high third baseman for the Kansas Metropolis Royals
That 2025 season put Garcia among the many finest third basemen within the sport. He led all major league third basemen with 170 hits and 39 doubles and was within the high 5 in batting common (third), RBI (74, fifth), stolen bases (second), batting common (third) and fWAR (5.6, second).
Garcia is a beneficial depth choice as nicely. He has acquired time at second and brief and stuffed in for six video games in middle in 2025. Whereas Garcia’s protection is finest at third, he has been a succesful choice in the course of the Royals’ infield.
As Garcia will flip 26 years previous throughout spring coaching, the Royals have locked their third baseman up all through his theoretical prime whereas receiving value certainty transferring ahead. Likewise, extending one other piece of their core may pay dividends sooner or later by displaying free brokers that they’re critical about constructing a roster able to contending for the postseason.
