(AP) — KANSAS CITY, MO Bobby Witt Jr., one of baseball’s young stars, has signed an 11-year contract worth over $288.7 million guaranteed with the Kansas City Royals, according to two people familiar with the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday. The move locks up Witt Jr. as the team looks to turn around its fortunes and convince a weary fanbase to invest in a new stadium.
As per the persons who talked to the AP on condition of anonymity because the financial terms were not released, the deal includes a three-year, $89 million team option that would push the value to more than $377 million and keep Witt in Kansas City until the 2037 season. Thanks to his guaranteed salary, Witt’s contract is now the 16th highest in Major League Baseball history. It is also the second largest pre-arbitration deal, trailing only the $340 million, 14-year contract Fernando Tatis Jr. signed with the Padres in April.
The longest and richest agreement in Royals history will be discussed during a news conference scheduled for Tuesday.
It also includes a $7,777,777 signing bonus that is based on Witt’s fortunate jersey number seven. The bonus is payable in seven installments, the first of which is due 60 days after the commissioner’s office approves the contract. After receiving $2 million this year, Witt will collect $7 million in 2025, $13 million in 2026, and $19 million in 2027 during the three years he would have been eligible for arbitration.
Witt is scheduled to make $30 million in 2028, the year he would have became free agent, and $35 million in 2029 and 2030. The Royals have a three-year team option that would pay $33 million in 2035 and $28 million apiece in 2036 and 2037. He also has four player options that are worth $35 million a year from 2031-34.
Witt would be 37 when the deal expires if all of the options are exercised.
In a statement released by the team, Witt said, “The entire Royals organisation and fans have treated me and my family like their own.” Witt was drafted in 2019. “From day one, this city and this team have felt like home.”
In the 2019 amateur draft, Witt was chosen by the Royals with the second overall pick. He quickly advanced through the minor league ranks and took home about every award imaginable. After making his major league debut in 2022 with 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases, he had a breakout sophomore season in which he joined the 30-30 club for the first time as a Royal.
