Kansas City Royals lock in another core player

The Kansas City Royals locked up one of their young stars when shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. signed an 11-year, $288.7 million extension ahead of the 2024 season. Another 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 team option for a sixth year. Per MLB.com's Anne Rogers, the extension is worth a guaranteed $57.5M, and the team option and escalators could get it into $85M territory.

Garcia had a breakout campaign in 2025. He posted career highs in virtually every category, producing a .286/.351/.449 batting line with 16 homers and 39 doubles over his 666 plate appearances while stealing 23 bases. Garcia was an All-Star for the first time and won the AL Gold Glove at third, leading the league with 12 runs saved.

Maikel Garcia is developing into a top third baseman for the Kansas City Royals

That 2025 season put Garcia among the best third basemen in the game. He led all major league third basemen with 170 hits and 39 doubles and was in the top five in batting average (third), RBI (74, fifth), stolen bases (second), batting average (third) and fWAR (5.6, second). 

Garcia is a valuable depth option as well. He has received time at second and short and filled in for six games in center in 2025. While Garcia's defense is best at third, he has been a capable option in the middle of the Royals' infield.

As Garcia will turn 26 years old during spring training, the Royals have locked their third baseman up throughout his theoretical prime while receiving cost certainty moving forward. Likewise, extending another piece of their core could pay dividends in the future by showing free agents that they are serious about building a roster capable of contending for the postseason.