Perez and the Royals agreed to a contract through 2021 on Tuesday that guarantees the All-Star catcher an additional $52.5 million over five seasons.
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It’s a goodwill gesture as much as anything, as the Royals already had control of Perez through the 2019 season at a bargain rate under the terms of a contract the catcher signed four years ago after playing only 39 games in the majors.
Moments before his extension was officially announced Tuesday, Perez told USA TODAY Sports in Spanish that he travels with five bodyguards when he goes to Venezuela, and that he plans to bring his mother stateside with him.
Perez was named the World Series MVP, selected to his third straight All-Star Game and earned his third consecutive Rawlings Gold Glove Award last season.
Feb 25, 2016; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez points at the World Series champions patch on his jersey as he poses for a portrait during photo day at Surprise Stadium. Perez was entering the final year of his current deal this year.
Hopefully other teams and players can make note of this agreement and realize that common ground and reasonable deliberation aren’t lost causes.
The Royals did not have to restructure Perez’s deal, but general manager Dayton Moore acknowledged he was woefully underpaid. 260 with 21 home runs and 70 RBIs. His home run total was the most in a single-season by a Royals backstop, while he led American League catchers in hits (137) and doubles and ranked third in homers and RBI. 364 in the Fall Classic with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. 348 (16-for-46) with three doubles, a homer and six RBI. 279 with 102 doubles, seven triples, 65 homers and 279 RBI.
White Sox fans, get used to seeing Salvador Perez, he will be in Kansas City for next six seasons at least.
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Some of the key young players who helped Kansas City win the championship previous year for the first time since 1985 are starting to build enough service time and track record to demand large increases. Later that month, the club signed right-hander Ian Kennedy to a five-year, $72 million contract that will keep him in Kansas City through 2020 – should Kennedy not elect to use an opt-out clause after two seasons. “I like representing it and I’m never going to stop going to Venezuela, but now I’ll spend less time there”. “We’ve got bad places everywhere in the world – there’s going to be good people and bad people – but in Venezuela it’s a little more”.
