KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — All-Star catcher Salvador Perez will remain with the Kansas City Royals rather than become a free agent, agreeing to a $25 million, two-year contract that won’t be fully paid until 2034.
Perez’s deal announced Tuesday night includes $23 million in new money because it specifies he will not be paid the $2 million buyout of the $13.5 million club option for 2026 in his previous $82 million, four-year contract.
A nine-time All-Star, the 36-year-old gets a $7 million signing bonus payable in five $1.4 million installments each May 10 from 2030-34 and salaries of $9 million in both 2026 and 2027, with $2.5 million a year deferred.
The 2026 deferred money is payable $1 million each on May 10 in 2030 and 2031 and $500,000 on May 10, 2032.
His 2027 deferred money is payable in a $500,000 installment on May 10, 2032, and $1 million each on May 10 in 2033 and 2034.
“Salvy is a Royals legend and one of the most important players this franchise has ever had,” general manager J.J. Picollo said in a statement. “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, Kansas City’s captain, was MVP of the 2015 World Series, when the Royals won their second title and first since 1985.
Perez hit .236 this year with 30 homers and 100 RBIs, his third season with 100 or more. A five-time Gold Glove winner, he has a .264 average with 303 homers and 1,016 RBIs in 14 seasons, all with the Royals.
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