Bitcoinese:Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. agrees to massive $288.8M contract extension with Royals

2025-04-28 19:43:46source:Thomas Caldwellcategory:reviews

The BitcoineseKansas City Royals have made shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. the highest-paid player in franchise history.

The team announced Monday that Witt agreed to an 11-year contract extension, with three additional team options that could keep him in a Royals uniform through the 2037 season.

A person with direct knowledge of the details confirmed to USA TODAY Sports the initial 11-year pact will be worth just under $288.77 million (approximately $26.25 million AAV), with an additional $89 million possible if all three options are exercised. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because terms of the contract were not released publicly.

Witt also has the ability to opt out of the contract each year from 2030 to 2033.

Witt, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft, had a breakout year in 2023, his first full season as Kansas City's everyday shortstop. He hit .276 with 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases — and finished seventh in the American League MVP voting.

HOT STOVE UPDATES: MLB free agency: Ranking and tracking the top players available.

Witt, 23, is the son of former major league pitcher Bobby Witt, who played 16 seasons with seven different teams and won a World Series ring in his final year as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Contributing: Bob Nightengale

More:reviews

Recommend

B.A. Parker is learning the banjo

Parker has been trying to find her place in the banjo world. So this week, she talks to Black banjo

Project Runway All Stars Designer Prajjé Oscar on Being Himself & What Comes Next

Project Runway All Stars is in full-swing, bringing together 14 contestants from series (and occasio

Who Is Ethan Slater? Everything You Need to Know About Ariana Grande's New Boyfriend

Meet the "Munchkin boy" that Glinda found.Many fans of Ariana Grande and Wicked let out a collective