The Royals lock up the left side of their infield.
The Royals have locked down the left side of their infield. Having already signed shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to a long-term deal, they have now signed third baseman Maikel Garcia to a five-year contract with a club option on a sixth year, according to ESPN reporter Jeff Passan. Financial terms have not yet been disclosed.
Garcia is coming off a career season in which he was named to his first All-Star team and won his first Gold Glove. He hit .286/.351/.449 with 16 home runs and 23 steals and was worth 5.8 rWAR, tied for sixth-most among American League position players.
The 25-year-old Garcia had expressed his desire for a long-term deal on social media. Without a deal, he would have been eligible for free agency after the 2029 season. This deal will keep him in a Royals uniform through at last 2030, with a club option for 2031, when Garcia will be 31 years old.
Category: General Sports