MLB Weekly Digest March 29th Edition: Royals Sign Perez to Extension

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The last week in MLB was about a catcher in the American League agreeing to an extension, a starting pitcher signs a multi-year extension, and an outfielder will be out several weeks.

Kansas City Royals Sign Catcher Salvador Perez to Four-Year Contract Extension

The Kansas City Royals have signed catcher Salvador Perez to a four-year contract extension, per a team announcement.

We have agreed to a four-year contract extension with Salvador Perez!#TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/Qho3Wj7E2L

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 21, 2021

The deal is worth $82 million, per Alec Lewis of The Athletic.

The terms of Salvador Perez's four-year extension, per source:

The $20.5 AAV deal starts in 2022.

2022: $18 million
2023: $20 million
2024: $20 million
2025: $22 million
2026: $13.5 million club option or $2 million buyout

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) March 21, 2021

The extension includes a 2026 team option which can increase the deal to $93.5 million over five seasons.

Perez’s extension is the most expensive deal the Royals have given to a player, surpassing the four-year, $72-milion deal they agreed to with outfielder Alex Gordon in 2016.

Salvador Perez on the four-year extension. #Royals pic.twitter.com/Vcu1OaiJQT

— Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) March 21, 2021

Perez was entering the final year of a five-year, $52.5-million deal he had signed with the Royals.

The catcher is coming off a strong 2020 season for the Royals.

He posted a .333 batting average and .986 OPS in 37 games with 12 doubles, 11 home runs, and 32 RBIs.

He was forced to miss the entire 2019 season as he underwent Tommy John surgery.

Perez having a resurgent 2020 season was an encouraging sign, and it was a smart move by the Royals to lock up their 2015 World Series MVP to an extension.

He has been a reliable catcher during his nine years with the club.

Houston Astros Ink Starting Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. to Five-Year, $85 Million extension

The Houston Astros will have an integral part of their starting rotation with the team moving forward, as they have signed starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. to a five-year contract extension, per Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston.

MLB source: Lance McCullers Jr and the #Astros have reached an agreement on a five-year extension. So Lance is tied to the Astros for six years.

— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 24, 2021

The deal is worth $85 million, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. and the Houston Astros are in agreement on a five-year, $85 million contract extension, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 24, 2021

There will not be any options in the deal, but it does contain a limited no-trade clause, per Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

There are no team options on he McCullers extension. Straight 5 years. He does have a no-trade clause #astros

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 24, 2021

The extension does not start until 2022, and his $6.5 million salary is all that counts toward payroll for luxury tax purposes this year, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Because McCullers’ extension begins in 2022, his $6.5M salary is all that counts toward payroll for luxury tax purposes this year. Important or the #Astros who project at about $203M as they try to stay under the $210M threshold.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 24, 2021

McCullers, who has spent his entire MLB career with the Astros, was set to become a free agent at the end of the season.

He had a bounce-back season with the Astros in 2020 as he posted a 3.93 ERA in 55 innings pitched (11 starts) with 56 strikeouts, 20 walks issued, five home runs allowed, a 115 ERA+, 3.70 FIP, and 1.16 WHIP.

The right-handed pitcher was sidelined for the entire 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

He has been a critical part of the starting rotation for the Astros since his debut in 2015 but has not been durable.

McCullers has yet to throw more than 130 innings in an entire season.

However, the extension was a smart move by both parties.

McCullers receives financial security, and the Astros have a crucial piece of their rotation locked up for several years.

Chicago White Sox Outfielder Eloy Jimenez Out Several Months with Chest Injury

The Chicago White Sox will be without outfielder Eloy Jimenez for five-to-six months as he suffered a ruptured pectoral tendon trying to rob a home run during a spring training game days ago, per a team announcement.

White Sox OF Eloy Jiménez yesterday suffered a ruptured left pectoral tendon. The injury will require surgery and the expected recovery period is 5-6 months.

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 25, 2021

Not good. Eloy exits the game after trying to rob a home run. pic.twitter.com/7rQ0BDbwy7

— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) March 24, 2021

He will need to undergo surgery, which is why he will be sidelined for several months.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn did mention that rookie Andrew Vaughn was a possible replacement.

Vaughn has had a stellar spring training and has a chance to make the Opening Day roster with the injury to Jimenez.

The loss of Jimenez is enormous for the club as he had a terrific 2020 campaign.

The MLB outfielder had a .296 batting average and .891 OPS in 55 games with 14 doubles, 14 home runs, and 41 RBIs.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a 29-year old New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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