As the best young Royals player since Hall of Fame talent Carlos Beltran roamed Kauffman Stadium’s outfield a quarter century ago, Bobby Witt Jr. is an immensely fun player to watch. Kansas City baseball fans rejoiced this week when Witt signed an 11-year extension worth $288 million—meaning that they’ll get to watch Witt for a long time.
It’s a heck of a headline, especially for those who vaguely pay attention to baseball. In this case, it’s also a heck of a big deal. The Royals have traditionally not been able to secure the services of their stars past free agency.