Anne Rogers has more on the Maikel Garcia signing.
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.
David Lesky reacts to the Lane Thomas signing.
At the plate, he’s had a bit of an odd career when it comes to the zone. He came up with the Cardinals in 2019 and had elite chase rates, though in limited plate appearances. But that continued after he was acquired by Washington in 2019. Then the chase rates jumped from 18.4 percent in 2021 to 26.8 percent in 2022 and then 28.1 percent in 2023. It should be noted those are still better than average. But then he was back to 23.3 percent in 2024 and 23.8 percent in limited time last year. So he understands the zone. The issue for him last year is he just couldn’t make contact like he had in the past. I’d bet it had to do with the plantar fasciitis. If you can’t plant your foot without pain, you’re going to have issues swinging.
Craig Brown likes Thomas as a lefty masher.
The right-handed hitting Thomas has done incredibly well against southpaws in his career. Hell, I’ll even say he rakes against lefties. Rakes! The wRC+ sums up the numbers nicely…Thomas is 35 percent better than the league average hitter against left-handed pitching.
The flip side of that platoon is…not so great. His career wRC+ of 84 against righties is underwhelming to say the least. On a club like the Royals where that’s been the standard in the outfield over the last couple of seasons, it’s basically unhelpful. Still, the lefty platoon split is promising and that’s why the Royals went out and got him.
Philip Ruo at Royals Keep looks at some trade possibilities between the Royals and Cardinals.
Toronto signs reliever Tyler Rogers to a three-year, $37 million contract.
Texas signs catcher Danny Jansen to a two-year, $14.5 million deal.
Will anyone spend to keep up with the Dodgers and Blue Jays?
What teams are in on Japanese free agent slugger Munetaka Murakami?
Christopher Morel signs a one-year deal with the Marlins.
The Red Sox are interested in Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras.
The Dodgers may be open to a Tyler Glasnow trade.
The Guardians extended the contract of manager Stephen Vogt.
The Chiefs are still dominating TV ratings this year.
Is it too risky for NBA teams to trade for a superstar?
Why do some animals eat their babies?
YouTubeTV will offer new packages, including one that includes just sports channels.
Disney signs a deal to allow OpenAI users to make content with their characters.
Your song of the day is Christopher Cross with Ride Like the Wind.
