The Kansas City Royals Are Paying Bobby Witt Over Three Times What They’ve Ever Paid A Player Previously
ByJoey Heldon February 13, 2024inArticles›Sports News
Last year, Bobby Witt Jr. became the first player in Royals history to hit at least 30 home runs and steal at least 30 bases. Now, the Royals are returning the favor, making Witt the first player in franchise history to get a nine-figure contract.
Witt and the Royals agreed to an 11-year, $288.8 million deal. The contract includes a team option after the 11th season that would extend Witt for another three years and $89 million, potentially giving him nearly $378 million over 14 years. Witt can also choose to opt out after the seventh, eighth, ninth, and 10th year of the deal.
It is, by far, the most money the Royals have ever offered a player.
Ed Zurga/Getty Images
In 2021, the Royals offered All-Star catcher Salvador Perez four years and $82 million. At the time, that was the largest deal in franchise history. And Witt’s deal is going to be worth more than three times that and potentially up to 4.5 times the amount that Perez is making.
If Witt keeps up his excellent play, he would be worth the steep price tag. During his rookie season in 2022, he put up a very tidy 20 home runs, 80 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases. He followed that up in 2023 with 30 home runs, 96 RBIs, and 49 stolen bases. He led the league in steals and triples (11), becoming the first player in MLB history to record 30 home runs, 10 triples, and 45 steals in one season.
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Witt has had such success — he’s spent his whole life around baseball. His father, Bobby Witt Sr., pitched 16 seasons in the majors and now serves as his son’s agent. The elder Bobby’s brother, Mike, also a pitcher, spent 12 years in the major leagues.
Of course, those older guys didn’t earn anywhere near as much as Witt Jr. is going to make. Hopefully he treats the family to a nice dinner or two.
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Despite Being A Postseason Monster, Daniel Murphy Will Almost Certainly NOT Be A Met Next Year. How Is That Possible???
ByTravis Pulveron October 23, 2015inArticles›Sports News
If you are a fan of the New York Mets, you may want to enjoy Daniel Murphy while you still can. Even though he has proven to be quite the offensive juggernaut during the postseason, it appears that the team has no interest in paying him what he is worth.
They are going to let him walk.
What? How in the world do you let a guy walk who led your team in batting average during the regular season, and has hit five home runs (so far) during the postseason (four in a row), and has done so off the best pitchers in the game ( Clayton Kershaw (twice), Zack Greinke , Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta )?
Ask the Mets front office and they will likely blame it on the economics of the game.
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After a solid regular season and an excellent postseason, where he has hit .357 with five home runs, seven runs scored and eight RBI in seven games (so far) Murphy is going to be able to command a pretty nice pay raise over his current $8 million a season deal. Exactly how much will depend on how much the team making the offer values him.
Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano is currently the highest paid in the position, at $24 million a season, but it is much more likely that he will get a multi-year deal averaging between Brandon Phillips money ($12 million a season) and Ian Kinsler money ($15 million a season).
The Mets could easily pay Murphy if they wanted to. Their 2015 salary was one of the lower ones in baseball at $94.7 million. However, rather than spend a fortune on a collection of talented players like the Yankees they would rather look to their farm system when they can.
Instead of paying Murphy, the team is expected to promote Dilson Herrera from the minors instead. In 84 games this season he is hitting .331 with 11 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. Until they think he is ready to take over, they will have Wilmer Flores and his $513,000 contract fill in.
Of course, if Murphy keeps hitting like he has been, and goes on to play a key role for the Mets in the World Series the team may face some serious backlash from the fans if they don’t bring him back. Will they be so concerned with maintaining strict control over the payroll if they have a World Series hero on their hands?
Mets fans can only hope to find out.
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