Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was scheduled to make near the league minimum in 2024.
It was his final year of “pre-arbitration” money, but no more.
Now, his future and that of his whole family and future children is secured.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan, as always, with the breaking news of the young year:
“BREAKING: Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on an 11-year, $288.7 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN,” he tweeted.
Passan called it a “monumental” deal, and he is absolutely right.
Witt is a 23-year-old star who hit .276/.319/.495 with 30 home runs and 49 stolen bases while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense last year.
Fans, of course, reacted to the news on Twitter.
Bobby Witt is a future face of baseball.
— Rippe (@MichaelRippe) February 5, 2024
Royals on the way up
— 𝐹𝑜𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒫𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝒞𝑜𝒸𝑜 (@coco_yankz) February 5, 2024
JEEZ
— Jacob P.M. (@JacobBSpeaks) February 5, 2024
HOLY
— JC (@jcwrld05) February 5, 2024
That is an absurd amount of cash
— Charlie Quinn (@CharlieQuinnMMA) February 5, 2024
He is worth every penny of that deal as the Royals’ face and future, at a time in which they are not afraid to spend on roster improvements anymore.
The contract will reportedly have four available opt-out clauses for Witt: after the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth years.
So, in essence, the Royals are on the hook for $148 million over the first seven years of the deal.
After that, it will be up to Witt, who will also enjoy a no-trade clause and a $7,777,777 signing bonus: fitting, since he wears No. 7 for the up-and-coming Royals.
In addition to the 11 years, the deal has a club option that would add three more years and $89 million.
If Witt opts into the deal and then the club exercises the option, the ceiling of the pact would be a mammoth 14-year, $377 million commitment.
The Royals have signed Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Hunter Renfroe, Chris Stratton, and other quality players, and now extended their franchise cornerstone.
They are definitely on the way up.
The post Fans React To Today’s Massive Bobby Witt Jr. News appeared first on The Cold Wire.