According to a source, Garcia will make $4 million in 2026 (what would have been his first arbitration year), $7 million in ‘27, $10 million in ‘28, $13 million in ‘29 and $19 million in ‘30. The club option is for $21 million. There are other escalators in the 2030 and ‘31 seasons. The deal also includes a signing bonus and a $3.2 million buyout on the club option to get to the $57.5 million guarantee.
The deal covers Garcia’s four arbitration years and at least one free agent year with the potential for two if the club option is picked up, keeping Garcia in Kansas City through at least his age-30 season. That means Garcia and Witt, the Royals’ generational shortstop who signed an 11-year contract extension in 2024, are both guaranteed to be in Kansas City through the 2030 season — extending the Royals’ window of contention with one of baseball’s best left sides of the infield.