Royals agree to two-year contract extension with franchise star Salvador Perez
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals sign Salvador Perez to two-year extension, keeping him through 2027.
- Perez hit .236 with 30 homers, 100 RBIs and reached 300 career homers last year.
- Royals plan to pursue another impact bat to support Perez and Bobby Witt Jr.
Kansas City Royals star Salvador Perez is staying for the long haul.
On Tuesday, the Royals and Perez agreed to a new two-year contract extension. That deal will pay him $12.5 million per year, a source confirmed to The Star.
Perez will remain with the Royals through 2027. He was eligible for a $13.5 million club option this offseason. The new deal will keep him in Kansas City through his age-37 campaign.
This season, Perez hit .236 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. He also became the eighth primary catcher in MLB history to eclipse 300 career homers.
Perez is currently a finalist for the 2025 American League Silver Slugger Award at the catcher position.
“Salvy is a Royals legend and one of the most important players this franchise has ever had,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said in a news release. “We had the option for next year, but everyone knew we wanted to make sure his legacy with us continued longer than that. We appreciate Salvy’s commitment to the Royals, and we’re just as excited as our fans.”
Perez has stated he wants to finish his career in Kansas City. He is a nine-time All-Star and was named 2015 World Series MVP. He has won five Gold Gloves, five Silver Slugger Awards and was named the 2024 Roberto Clemente Award winner.
The Royals have been busy this offseason. Perez returns to the club but other MLB veterans — such as Adam Frazier, Mike Yastrzemski and Randal Grichuk — have hit the open market.
Now, the Royals will turn their attention to other offseason needs. That includes searching for another impact bat to surround Perez, Bobby Witt Jr. and others in the batting order.
Perez will play a major role in the Royals’ offense once again. In each of his last five seasons, he has hit at least 20 home runs and recorded 75 RBIs. The Royals will continue to give him time behind the plate while also utilizing his ability to play first base.
It’s also possible Perez spends more time as the designated hitter. The Royals are expected to have young catcher Carter Jensen serve as Perez’s understudy, representing the future at the position.
Jensen made his MLB debut in September. He hit .300 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 60 at-bats.
Now, the Royals can give Jensen more time to develop. Perez can continue to have the lion’s share of the catching duties as Jensen navigates his first full season in the majors.
Perez remains the heartbeat of the Royals organization. He is the lone member of the 2014 and 2015 World Series teams still active — while continuing to produce at a high level.
And there could be more history on the horizon.
Perez is just 15 home runs shy of surpassing Hall of Famer George Brett (317 homers) for the most in franchise history. He is also 212 hits behind Hal McRae (1924) from moving into fifth-place on the Royals’ all-time hits list.
Perez will begin his 15th MLB season with the Royals on March 26, 2026. The Royals open the campaign against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Atlanta.
This story was originally published November 4, 2025 at 7:38 PM.
