Pitcher Ragans Signs $13.25 Million Extension with Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Left-hander Ryan Ragans has agreed to a three-year, $13.25 million contract extension with the Kansas City Royals, sources told ESPN on Friday. The extension secures Ragans’ salary through the 2027 season.

The new deal includes $1.25 million for the current season, followed by $4 million in 2025 and $8 million in 2026. Ragans is set to hit free agency after the conclusion of the 2028 season.

Ragans, 27, has rapidly emerged as one of Major League Baseball’s most formidable pitchers, especially following his recovery from two Tommy John surgeries, a procedure often seen as career-threatening. After nearly three years away from professional pitching, Ragans made his way to the big leagues and recorded nine starts alongside 17 relief appearances before being traded to the Royals.

In his first year with the Royals, he has established himself as a frontline starter, amassing a 3.14 ERA with 223 strikeouts and 67 walks over 186⅓ innings. His dominant performance earned him a spot on the All-Star team last season.

Ragans joined the Royals amid a franchise resurgence, forming a strong pitching duo with fellow starter Michael Wacha, who re-signed with the team in November. Along with the return of Wacha, the Royals have actively bolstered their roster, acquiring closer Scott Barlow and trading for second baseman Nico Hoerner this offseason, aiming to complement their core led by MVP runner-up Bobby Witt Jr.

The Royals will pay Ragans nearly $500,000 above the major league minimum this season, while also buying out his first two years of arbitration, approaching salaries that are competitive with similar players. Notable examples in the league highlight the value of securing contracts before arbitration, as first-time eligible right-hander Spencer Strider received $4.05 million last season.

By extending Ragans now, the Royals sidestep potential arbitration challenges, which could arise if Ragans were to win a Cy Young Award, a scenario that would allow him to contest for a significantly higher salary. The path taken by past Cy Young winners, such as the settlement of $6.5 million secured by another top pitcher, exemplifies this risk.