KC Royals and All-Star pitcher Cole Ragans reach agreement on 3-year contract extension
The Kansas City Royals have invested in left-handed starting pitcher Cole Ragans.
On Friday, Ragans and the club reached agreement on a three-year contract extension.
Ragans, 27, thus receives a significant pay raise this season. ESPN insider Jeff Passan reported that Ragans will make $13.25 million over the next few years. The contract extension will cover the 2025 season and the first two years of arbitration.
Ragans will remain under club control through the 2028 season, Passan reported. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reported he’ll make $1 million in 2025, $4.5 million in 2026 and $7.5 million in 2027. The deal is said to include a $250,000 signing bonus and incentives.
“Cole has been one of the league’s best starters and a terrific teammate since joining us,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said in a statement. “He earned this contract through his hard work, perseverance and professionalism. He’s been an outstanding performer for us at a young age and his success is motivating to us moving forward.”
Last season, Ragans finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting. He was 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA in 32 starts and made his first All-Star appearance. He was KC’s opening day starter in 2024 and lived up to his billing as a front-line ace.
In the postseason, Ragans started Game 1 of the Royals’ American League Wild Card Series against the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched six shutout innings and recorded eight strikeouts in KC’s win at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
The Royals acquired Ragans in a 2023 trade with the Texas Rangers. He has a career 3.00 ERA and a 7.3 fWAR with the Royals.
This will be Ragans’ third year in Kansas City. He will anchor the Royals’ rotation alongside fellow veteran starters Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Michael Lorenzen.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM.
