The Kansas City Royals are not a team we usually hear much from during the offseason.
They are a team that consistently has one of the lowest payrolls in baseball.
But, they recently handed out the largest contract in franchise history.
It is rare for the Royals to pay top-of-the-market value for a player, but when a player like Bobby Witt Jr. comes around that is what it is going to cost.
The Royals and Witt agreed to a massive 11-year, $288.8 million extension.
He will now be the face of their franchise for the next decade.
Bob Nightengale detailed how the contract will pay Witt yearly.
He will not start making $30 million per year until the 2028 season.
Bobby Witt Jr. deal:2024: $2M; $7.77M signing bonus.2025: $7M2026: $13M2027: $19M2028: $30M2029: $35M2030: $35M (opt out)2031: $35M (opt out)2032: $35M (opt out)2033: $35M (opt out)2034: $35M 3-year club option.2035: $33M2036: $28M2037: $28M https://t.co/EQ0PaOMCvs
Witt is 23 years old with two MLB seasons under his belt.
He has proven to be one of the most electrifying players in baseball over that time.
Last season, he finished seventh in AL MVP voting, thanks to a season where he hit .276 with 30 home runs, 96 RBI, and 49 stolen bases.
There is no question Witt has established himself as one of the top players in the sport.
But, for the Royals to be competitive, they need much more than just Witt.
Many Royals fans hope that this contract for Witt will make the Royals spend more on free agents.
One way to build a successful roster quickly is by signing top free agents.
That has never been the Royals’ way of doing things but it may be time for a change.
Witt is in the fold for the foreseeable future, but how will the Royals approach the rest of their roster?