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Another day, another American League Central signing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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A day after the Kansas City Royals signed Lane Thomas to a one-year contract<\/a>, they inked Maikel Garcia to a five-year, $52.5 million contract<\/a> that will keep the infielder in Kansas City for the long-term. Meanwhile, the Guardians haven\u2019t done much of anything outside of adding three unheralded relievers to their bullpen.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The deal was first reported by ESPN\u2019s Jeff Passan.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BREAKING: Third baseman Maikel Garcia and the Kansas City Royals are finalizing a five-year contract extension with a club option for a sixth year, sources tell ESPN. Garcia, 25, won a Gold Glove this year and will remain alongside Bobby Witt Jr. on the left side of the infield.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 12, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n Even though there\u2019s no guarantee that Garcia\u2019s contract will age well, it\u2019s still a bit disappointing to see a division rival ink such an important player to a contract extension at a time when Steven Kwan\u2019s contract status is a talking point among Guardians fans.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The contract comes on the back of a career year for Garcia, who slashed .286\/.351\/.449 with 16 home runs and 74 RBI in 160 games while being named a first time All-Star. He ended up beating out Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00edrez for the American League Gold Glove at third base<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While he struggled a bit in his first taste of MLB action (.251 batting average in 289 games from 2022 to \u201824), he hit a new level in 2025 that helped him earn a big contract. He\u2019s a Super Two player, so the contract will cover all three of his arbitration-eligible years along with two years of free agency.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even if the Royals are banking on Garcia to continue a breakout, they decided they\u2019d rather sign him to a contract at a discount as opposed to waiting and running the risk of his price tag increasing.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It also helps that the Royals also have Bobby Witt Jr. under contract for nine more seasons<\/a> as a part of the 11-year, $288.8 million he signed prior to the 2024 season. Although the Royals finished last season with a disappointing 82-80 record after making it to the postseason the season prior, Witt and Garcia create a dangerous tandem on the left side of the infield.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Garcia\u2019s playing in 35 games against the Guardians (the second-most he has against any team) and he\u2019s hit .248 with four home runs and 17 RBI in those games. He hit .317 against the Guardians last season.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Guardians have plenty of young players who stand out as extension candidates<\/a>. They could get in on the ground floor for a player like Parker Messick or CJ Kayfus, or try to ink Kyle Manzardo or Cade Smith to a contract before their price gets higher<\/a> (not dissimilar to what the Royals did with Garcia).\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n While there\u2019s still a chance the Guardians’ front office could ink someone to an extension at spring training (which they\u2019ve done in years prior), there will be a little more pressure on them to do so after the Royals jumped the line on Garcia.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n
Mikael Garcia is going to be a thorn in the Guardians’ side for the forseeable future <\/h2>\n