The Kansas City Royals finished the 2025 season with an 82-80 record and missed the playoffs, but the organization is making moves to ensure brighter days are ahead.
Kansas City locked up one of its cornerstone players earlier this week when they announced a five-year contract extension with third baseman Maikel Garcia, keeping him in a Royals uniform through at least 2030 with a club option for 2031.
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Garcia Explains His Decision
The 25-year-old Garcia made it clear why he wanted to get the deal done now rather than test free agency down the road, and his words spoke to both his personal goals and his commitment to the city.
“I wanted security. Don’t worry about money. Just focus on baseball… and we want to bring a championship back to this city,” Garcia said via Gabe Swartz.
Garcia’s mindset reflects a player who understands what matters most at this stage of his career.
By locking in his future with Kansas City, he can put all his energy into getting better on the field and helping the Royals compete for a title rather than thinking about contract negotiations every offseason.
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Garcia Proved His Worth in 2025
The Venezuela native earned every dollar of his reported $57.5 million guaranteed deal by putting together a breakout campaign in 2025.
Garcia slashed .286/.351/.449 across 160 games while setting career highs with 16 home runs, 39 doubles, and 74 RBI.
He also added 23 stolen bases and made his first All-Star team in July.
His work on the defensive side was just as impressive, as Garcia won his first Gold Glove Award at third base and finished with 18 Outs Above Average at the position, which led all American League third basemen.
He also finished 14th in AL MVP voting after putting up 5.8 WAR according to Baseball Reference.
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A Dominant Left Side of the Infield
The extension means Garcia will be paired with superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. through at least 2030, giving Kansas City one of the best left sides of the infield in all of baseball.
Witt posted 7.1 WAR in 2025, so together the two players combined for nearly 13 WAR last season while both were just 25 years old.
Garcia became just the second Royals player signed beyond the 2027 season alongside Witt, showing the organization’s commitment to building around its young core.
With the franchise’s last World Series title coming in 2015, Garcia’s goal of bringing a championship back to Kansas City is one that fans in the city share with him.