Royals break out checkbook for franchise-record deal with Bobby Witt Jr.

The 23-year-old from Colleyville, Texas, hit .276 with 30 home runs and 96 RBI last season — the second of his career. Not only can he handle himself at the plate, but he's also a terror on the base paths with 49 stolen bases and an MLB-high 11 triples in 2023. 

"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 after signing the deal. This city and team have felt like home since day one, and it's an honor to continue to represent all of K.C."

While Royals fans should be excited that they get to watch Witt go to work for the next decade, they should also be excited that ownership decided to break out the checkbook to keep him. 

Some MLB clubs are notorious for keeping their team payroll small to improve their financial stability. While that mindset may work for a typical business, it makes it incredibly difficult to field a successful team in any professional sport. 

As a small-market team, the Royals have traditionally been one of the clubs that sacrifices on-field performance for monetary success. Since 2020, Kansas City has ranged from the 22nd to the 26th-highest payroll in MLB. 

Over that time, they have a dismal 221-323 record, and haven't finished above .500 since their World Series title run in 2015. 

In 2023, they trailed the major league's top spenders, the New York Mets, by $247.5M. 

Salvador Perez held the previous franchise record for the biggest contract when he signed a four-year, $82M deal in 2021. He was already over 30 years old at the time.

Witt, meanwhile, is heading into just his third MLB season (compared to Season 13 for Perez). 

He will likely still need some help if Kansas City wants to get back to the postseason for the first time since their most recent championship, and his youth does present risks.

But Witt has shown enough promise that fans and ownership alike should be over the moon about the deal.