Royals sign Maikel Garcia to five-year contract extension

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