Where Bobby Witt Jr.’s 14-year deal ranks in the longest contracts in MLB history
If all goes to plan, Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. will be in his late 30s before he would even contemplate testing the free-agent waters of Major League Baseball.
Witt, 23, agreed on Monday to a 14-year contract with the Royals that includes 11 years guaranteed.
“I am incredibly grateful to the Sherman family and the Royals front office for believing in me, and I promise to do everything in my power to help bring championship baseball back to Kansas City!” Witt wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Let’s go!!”
In 1985, the Royals gave so-called “lifetime” contracts to George Brett, Willie Wilson and Dan Quisenberry, but it didn’t really work out that way..
Witt’s deal ties for the longest in MLB history by year, according to the league’s website. Here are the longest, according to MLB and NBC Los Angeles. This does not include contracts with deferred payments, such as the one Bobby Bonilla has with the Mets.
14 years: Witt’s deal with the Royals.
14 years: Fernando Tatis Jr. agreed to a 14-year extension with the Padres worth roughly $340 million in 2021.
13 years: Giancarlo Stanton got a 13-year, $325 million deal with the Marlins in 2014. He was later traded to the Yankees.
13 years: The Phillies signed Bryce Harper to a 13-year, $330 million free agent deal in 2019.
12 years: Julio Rodriguez received a 12-year extension from the Mariners in 2022, but with options it could end up being a 17-year deal. That would make it the longest. It could be worth $470 million, per ESPN.
12 years: The Angels and Mike Trout agreed to a 12-year, $426.5 million contract before the 2019 season.
12 years: Mookie Betts got a 12-year, $365 million deal with the Dodgers before the 2020 season.
12 years: The Dodgers in December signed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year contract worth $325 million.
This story was originally published February 5, 2024 at 1:11 PM.
