Royals Ink Former NLCS MVP To Three-Year, $51 Million Contract Extension

The Kansas City Royals are facing one of the more important offseasons since their franchise won multiple American League Pennants in the early 2010s.

Kansas City’s rebuild got off to an incredible start as the franchise went from 56 wins in 2023 to 86 wins in 2024. Now, they have the winter to improve their roster with an AL Central division title in mind.

This offseason is off to a fast start, as ESPN’s Jeff Passan has reported that Kansas City has re-signed a key piece of the starting rotation.

Passan reported that the Royals have re-signed right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha to a three-year, $51 million contract. The deal includes a club option and can max out as a four-year, $72 million deal.

“The big upshot of the Michael Wacha deal: Kansas City keeps together its starting rotation of Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo and Wacha,” Passan wrote Sunday. “And Wacha nearly doubles his career earnings while staying in a place he thrived last year. Kansas City is already out and spending, as it did last winter, when the Royals turned from a 56-win mess into an 86-win playoff team.”

Wacha, 33, went 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 3.5 WAR. He was a solid starter for the Royals, posting his best FIP (3.65) since the 2017 season. This deal locks him into Kansas City for the next three or four seasons.

Now Kansas City can turn its attention to the free agent market. They will likely pursue another starter and a few impact bats this winter.

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