The Kansas City Royals are heading into the 2026 season looking to make a return to the MLB playoffs. The Royals finished with an 82–80 record, which is not an awful result, yet the roster still has work to do. The front office addressed the outfield on Thursday, inking Lane Thomas to a one-year contract worth $5.25 million.

Then, on Friday, Kansas City made a much more significant move, signing third baseman Maikel Garcia to a five-year contract extension with a club option for a sixth year, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

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“BREAKING: Third baseman Maikel Garcia and the Kansas City Royals are finalizing a five-year contract extension with a club option for a sixth year, sources tell ESPN. Garcia, 25, won a Gold Glove this year and will remain alongside Bobby Witt Jr. on the left side of the infield,” Passan reported on X.

This is a huge deal for the Royals, as one of their best players from last season will remain with the organization for the foreseeable future. Garcia earned his first Gold Glove Award earlier this offseason, and the numbers back it up. He finished with a Fielding Run Value of 13 and Outs Above Average of 17, according to Statcast’s Baseball Savant, marks that ranked among the best in baseball. The 25-year-old infielder also collected his first All-Star selection in 2025 and finished 14th in American League MVP voting.

Garcia has firmly solidified himself as the second-best player on the roster, and the Royals wasted no time ensuring he would be part of their long-term plan. It mirrors the strategy they used with superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who is signed to one of the most team-friendly long-term deals in MLB. As for Garcia, time will tell how his contract plays out, but the Royals are betting on his continued growth.

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At the plate, Garcia delivered a strong season, posting a .286 batting average, a .351 on-base percentage, an .800 OPS, 16 home runs, 23 stolen bases and 74 RBIs across 160 games. He has spent his entire four-year career with Kansas City since making his MLB debut in 2022, and now he will remain a cornerstone as the Royals aim to build a contender around their young core.

With Garcia locked in alongside Witt, the Royals now have one of the best left sides of the infield, giving fans hope that Kansas City can return to postseason contention in 2026.