Michael Wacha is returning to the Royals. After being a key player in a season where their rotation shone, the Royals are determined to keep his momentum going into 2025. Michael Wacha’s contract was extended by the Royals for three more years on Sunday, with a 2028 club option included. Wacha’s existing two-year contract, which contained a player option he was scheduled to exercise, is essentially replaced by this new agreement, which begins in 2025. 

By locking in Wacha, the Royals are not just securing a talented arm; they’re sending a clear message about their ambitions. Fans can get excited about a promising 2025 season; Michael Wacha is the Royals 2nd highest player. So, the team just made a significant move, locking up Wachamole with a multiyear extension that could be worth up to $72 million over four years. This new deal guarantees Wacha three years at $51 million, along with a $14 million club option for 2028.

Moreover, the 33-year-old will see a nice bump in pay, earning $18 million in both 2025 and 2026, up from his $16 million salary this year and the $16 million player option he was set to exercise. Wacha will get $14 million in 2027, including performance bonuses that may increase his pay to $18 million. Also, the club option for 2028 includes a $1 million buyout and comparable performance bonuses.

Only last summer, Michael Wacha signed a two-year, $32 million contract with the Royals. That deal included an opt-out clause which the #52 could have chosen to activate but didn’t. Instead, they decided to rework the agreement, guaranteeing the veteran righty will stay in Kansas City – a place he said he loved at the close of the season. But who is the KC Royals’ highest-paid player, then, if he’s the second-highest? 

KC Royals has a heavy deal with Bobby Witt Jr. 

Earlier this year, the Kansas City Royals had taken a risk. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and the crew reached an 11-year agreement that promised somewhere around $288.7 million. A three-year, $89 million team option is also included in the contract, which increases the total value to nearly $377 million. This was a smart but expensive move by the KC Royals in order to keep the now 24-year-old for a very long time in the squad.

Did you know, while Bobby made this deal at just 23 years old, his guaranteed salary now ranks as the 16th-largest current deal in Major League Baseball? It is also the second-biggest pre-arbitration agreement, trailing only the 14-year, $340 million contract that the Padres handed to Fernando Tatis Jr. last April. Moreover, this landmark deal not only solidified Witt’s future with the Royals but also made him the highest paid player in the franchise’s history. 

As the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft, Bobby Witt Jr. has truly proved why he was worthy of such a hefty contract in his first full season as Kansas City’s everyday shortstop – he put together an impressive campaign, with 30 home runs and an astonishing 49 stolen bases. With such a remarkable breakout year, it’s no wonder the Royals have made a long-term commitment to Witt. 

What are your thoughts on Wacha and Witt Jr.’s lucrative deals? Share in the comments below.