The Royals and Garcia (hamstring) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a five-year contract extension with a club option for 2031 on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Anne Rogers of MLB.com says the deal is worth a guaranteed $57.5 million and can reach $85 million if he hits escalators and the option is exercised. Garcia had been eligible for salary arbitration for the first time as a Super 2 qualifier, but his new deal with cover all arbitration years and at least one year of free agency. Slated to turn 26 in March, Garcia had a breakout 2025 season, slashing .286/.351/.449 with 16 home runs and 23 stolen bases while capturing his first American League Gold Glove award. The third baseman recently strained his hamstring while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League, but he should be fine for the beginning of spring training.
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Royals' Maikel Garcia: Strains hamstring in winter ball
Rotowire
Garcia suffered a strained hamstring Sunday while playing for Tiburones de La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League, Marcos Grunfeld of El Emergente reports.
Garcia will wait to hear back from the Royals about either returning to winter ball at a later date or shutting things down. At the very least, he is expected to be sidelined for the next week or so. Garcia had a breakout 2025 campaign for Kansas City, slashing .286/.351/.449 with 16 home runs and 23 stolen bases over 160 games.
Garcia went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a run scored and a walk in Sunday's win over the Athletics.
Garcia wasted no time, ripping a leadoff double on the first pitch of the game before adding a sacrifice fly in the second inning and an RBI single in the fourth. The strong regular-season finale lifted his 2025 OPS to an even .800 with 39 doubles, five triples, 16 homers, 74 RBI and 23 stolen bases across 160 games, cementing a breakout year after he posted just a .613 OPS in 157 games last season.
Garcia went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, three runs scored and a walk in Tuesday's win over the Angels.
Garcia set the tone with a leadoff double in the first inning and later came around to score on a wild pitch, sparking what became his first three-hit performance since Aug. 10. While he's had a quieter September with a .620 OPS over 20 games, the third baseman's 2025 campaign as a whole has been a breakout. Through 155 contests, he owns an .809 OPS with 38 doubles, five triples, 16 homers, 72 RBI and 23 stolen bases, ranking second among Royals regulars in OPS behind only Bobby Witt.
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