3 Royals KC Should Extend Next After Bobby Witt Jr. Deal

The Royals are well-positioned to make a significant step forward next season and experience true sustained success after signing superstar Bobby Witt Jr. to a record-breaking contract extension, effectively locking up one of MLB's best players for the next decade.

After putting forth one of the best seasons in franchise history, the MVP candidate now hopes to lead the organization back to the World Series. Kansas City has several other young promising players in addition to their homegrown star, and J.J. Piccollo and John Sherman should be aggressive in securing extensions for those players as well.

With that in mind, let's look at three Royals that Kansas City needs to extend now that Witt Jr. is here for the long haul.

3 Royals that Kansas City Needs to Extend After Bobby Witt Jr.

1. Vinnie Pasquantino - 1B/DH

Pasquantino missed most of the 2023 season after tearing a labrum in his shoulder, but he's one of the best young hitters on the team and deserves to stick around as a power bat with great leadership qualities.

He's under club control through 2026, but an extension now could save the team some money in the long run if he continues his progression, the same logic that led us to Witt Jr.'s deal.

The 26-year-old had a .832 OPS while drawing 35 walks in just 72 games in 2022, showcasing an impressive combination of power and plate discipline. Before getting hurt last season, Pasquantino saw his average dip but hit nine home runs with 17 doubles in 62 games.

After going through a long injury rehab process while his team stumbled down the standings, Pasquantino is ready to get back on the field.

Given the flurry of offseason spending we've already seen, it looks like the Royals' brass means business too. That means there's no better time to ensure Pasquantino helps form a formidable middle part of the order for the future.

We'll get to the next player in a moment, but don't forget to claim BetMGM's instant $158 sign-up bonus available now! New users who deposit at least $10 and bet $5 or more on any game will immediately be credited $158 in bonus bets just for placing the wager. Sign up for BetMGM now!