Perez gets 4year deal with K.C.
Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez, a sixtime AllStar, on Sunday agreed to a fouryear, $82 million extension that ties him to the only organization for which he’s played until at least 2025.
“It’s hard to believe where I’m coming from, where I grew up, to see the situation I have right now, it makes me feel super happy,” Perez said from the Royals’ spring training home in Surprise, Ariz. “My mother is going to be happy. I know my grandma is going to be happy. I know they’re excited for me to be here for four more years, maybe five.”
Perez is due a base salary of $13 million as he completes his current contract. He will make $18 million next season, $20 million in 2023 and 2024, and $22 million in 2025 with a $2 million buyout for 2026.
The value of the new deal sets a franchise record, surpassing the fouryear, $72 million contract the Royals gave outfielder Alex Gordon in 2016.
“Nobody loves to play baseball more than Salvador Perez. There are players that like it just as much but nobody loves it more,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “Nobody can imagine him not being here.”
Perez, who turns 31 in May, was the World Series MVP in 2015, when the club broke its 30year title drought, and is coming off a season in which he hit .333 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs to win his third Silver Slugger.
He also has five Gold Gloves to his name.
“I mean, the catching position is without a doubt the most demanding position in our game,” Moore said. “It’s hard, I think almost impossible, to win championships unless you have somebody behind the plate, somebody at the catcher position, that’s a leader — that brings out the confidence in your pitching staff. And Salvy does all that.” Votto update: Reds first baseman Joey Votto returned to camp after sitting out with COVID19, but when he might play again is uncertain. He left camp after a positive test on March 10 and has been isolated since.
“I feel good,” Votto said. “I’m glad to be back, and I’m looking forward to putting the uniform on and joining the team. I miss playing ball, I miss being part of the group.” Briefly: Diamondbacks reliever Tyler Clippard has a sprained right shoulder and won’t throw for at least six weeks. The former A’s righthander signed a $2.25 million, oneyear deal in February . ... The Pirates signed knuckleballer Steven Wright to a minorleague contract. The righthander last pitched in the majors in 2019, when had six appearances with Boston after serving an 80game suspension following a positive test for human growth hormone.