The talks that led to catcher Salvador Perez signing a Royals’ franchise-record $82MM extension over the weekend began in January. Royals Chairman and CEO John Sherman took a trip to Florida with Perez, general manager Dayton Moore, assistant GM Rene Francisco, manager Mike Matheny, and bench coach Pedro Grifol to kick off the conversations that would keep their franchise catcher in Kansas City well into his 30s, per MLB.com’s Anne Rogers.
Perez, who will turn 31 in May, has been a member of the Kansas City organization for 15 years already, and though Tommy John surgery robbed him of the 2019 season and knocked him from the public spotlight, he’s a well-respected and well-decorated catcher who has earned six All-Star nods, three Silver Slugger Awards and five Gold Gloves to go with his 2015 World Series ring and World Series MVP.
It is that resume, perhaps, that scared the Royals into thinking they would be outbid for Perez should be reach free agency. Said Moore (per Rogers): “He’s earned the right to potentially become a free agent, and who knows how that would have unfolded. But I think it’s safe to say, when Salvador Perez becomes a free agent, maybe it’s a little more challenging for us to have him here in Kansas City.”
It’s hard to know exactly what kind of market Perez would have found as a free agent entering his age-32 season. J.T. Realmuto, the consensus top backstop in the sport, didn’t spark the bidding war many expected this past offseason, eventually returning to Philadelphia on a five-year deal worth $115.5MM. Perez will make $93.5MM over a similar term if the Royals activate their club option for 2026. He will be two years older than Realmuto for the length of his contract.
James McCann, meanwhile, signed for a four-year term worth $40.6MM over his age-31 to -34 seasons. McCann doesn’t have nearly the track record that Perez does, but it’s still a little startling to see Perez now slated to make almost exactly double McCann’s guarantee while being a year older during the term of the deal.
Whether the Royals overestimated the competition they’d have for Perez on the open market wasn’t their primary concern. Whereas most teams operate on a value level, the Royals simply wanted Perez in Kansas City over the long haul. Royals leadership has long been concerned with properly rewarding Perez for all that he’s done for the organization, writes the Athletic’s Andy McCullough. That was goal number one, and they accomplished it.
Monkey’s Uncle
At first glance it might look like the Royals overpaid Perez a little bit, but mere numbers don’t factor in leadership, continuity, and being somewhat of a face of a franchise. The Royals don’t have one of the bigger budgets around, so they were wide to handle the extension now and in they way they went about it.
Pauly2112
Stole my thunder
GASoxFan
Other teams don’t raise their bids in a substantial way to take those things away from another team. They hire guys on low end contracts that bring that as a bonus.
Still an overpay.
looiebelongsinthehall
Not an overpay. Some players simply have intangibles that can’t be measured via saber-metrics. Add them to the equation and Perez was worth more to the Royals today than to other clubs when he would have hit free agency. Message sent loud and clear to his teammates and the fan base. Great for the Royals and great for him.
giantsphan12
I like the old-school approach the Royals took which, as @connfy said include the intangibles like clubhouse presence, face of the franchise, and as the article states, the club’s desire to “reward” Perez for his past and present value. I like it all the way around (even if it’s a slight overpay).
Frahm_
So leadership is worth 82 million?
juanc-2
For the Royals, yes. And that’s okay.
kcmark
Better Pérez than Hosmer.
TLB2001
Frahm isn’t worth replying to.
royalsfun
They may be overpaying now but they got excellent value early on in their team friendly extension so it’s probably going to average itself out.
Pauly2112
Precisely
looiebelongsinthehall
While I stick with my above comments, the sport is a business and look at the mess Boston got in my rewarding after 18. Perez is a catcher, a leader.
bush1
Well yeah, but when a player gets overpaid they’re not going to take way less to help a team out. I know it’s different, but managing your assets to “make things right” is risky business with a franchise that has the payroll of the Royals. I’m not hating on it, and actually kind of think it’s cool but that doesn’t mean it’s smart.
TLB2001
This assumes the owner won’t eat the loss. If it doesn’t restrict their ability to sign future payment, then nobody other than John Sherman and his accountant give a damn. 99.9% of Royals fans are elated and it will pay off in gate revenue, merchandise sales and TV ratings, not to mention on the field.
mlb1225
For a catcher, his offense is decent. His overall defense is average, but he definitley brings a leadership factor and trust factor with pitchers that can’t be measured. This will help all of the Royals’ young pitchers more than anything.
MWeller77
“ He will be two years older than Realmuto for the length of his contract.”
I think that two-year age difference will persist beyond the length of the contract 🙂
GASoxFan
Add that to the aging curve for catchers and…
CalcetinesBlancos
I think he’s being sent to the glue factory once the contract ends.
looiebelongsinthehall
Lol.
TLB2001
This is actually not true. Salvy was born in May of 1990, Reamuto March 1991. Not even a year apart.
WarkMohlers
It’s strange wording but I believe it means Realmuto’s contract begins at age 30 while Perez’s begins at age 32. For example, year three of Perez’s contract will have him two years older than Realmuto was in year three of his contract.
TLB2001
We also signed Sebastian Rivero as an international free agent and both played on the same team in A ball and made the all star team in 2018. Dayton drafts and signs catchers and shortstops every year.
TLB2001
No idea why this reply went here instead of the thread about MJ Melendez.
bush1
I get Perez is a good leader and meant a lot to the organization. But I would’ve been shocked if he were to make more than that on the open market, considering how much the rest of baseball values walks, and he has like the worst walk rate in MLB. Not too mention his age and position. It must be a thing where they know they hosed him on the other deals and were willing to get hosed themselves this deal. There’s no upside in that contract at this point, and tons of risk. But it is kind of cool to see the loyalty I guess. Just risky for a franchise with their money situation.
looiebelongsinthehall
It’s the kind of move that winning clubs make. Reward your own. Message could bring another free agent or two who are deciding between similar offers.
bush1
Yeah could be. I hope it works out for the Royals.
Pauly2112
Not to rain on the parade & this is purely hypothetical but I wonder what factor MJ Melendez & his stagnation in the organization played a role in this long term pact which I have no qualms about…
TLB2001
Actually everything I’ve read says Melendez had an amazing 2020 at the alternate site and is trending up. I don’t think Melendez had anything to do with it, Salvy is on Mt Rushmore for the Royals, you don’t let him walk for some unproven kid.
Pauly2112
Yeah but you have to think of the timeline in which Salvy’s contract expiring vs. Melendez being drafted which to me is not coincidental but it’s a moot point as we speak.
Luc (Soto 3rd best in the game)
Incoming Frahm I would take Danny Jansen over Perez. Probably bet his whole house that he wouldn’t be WS MVP so thats where his hatred comes from.
thebaseballfanatic
Hold up-
(says admitted Jays fan)
Pauly2112
You’re new to the game, aren’t you?!?
Luc (Soto 3rd best in the game)
Nope. Are you?
Pauly2112
Obviously not but you clearly are based on your asinine take but I digress.
Luc (Soto 3rd best in the game)
I’m not new to the game lol, but if you give me a good reason why Jansen is a better pick go ahead, unless you’re one of those IG nerds who think Hedges is a top 3 catcher.
padam
Reminds me of the Jeter contract and relationship at the very end. At this current time it looks like a potential overpay, especially considering his age, wear, and TJ surgery not too long ago. It’s a position that could go south fast, and repositioning the player could be an issue (although in this case they have the DH). It’s a deal you can ‘understand’ due to his past service and perhaps couple of good years left, but as for the team and it’s competitive state, the money could’ve possibly been better spent elsewhere.
bush1
Except the Yankees can afford to overpay a legacy player. Not so sure that’s a good idea for the Royals. I respect the loyalty, but don’t think it’s smart as they could’ve put a qualifying offer on him and likely resigned him for less.
padam
Yup, agreed.
despicable_you
What is it with with KC that players who play there just love it, as opposed to other smaller markets?
CalcetinesBlancos
I think it’s the girls.
Luc (Soto 3rd best in the game)
Southern chicks lol. I heard the city is chill, some players like a calm stadium and they don’t want to get booed by their own fans like Philly (not all Philly fans). I would like to play in a calm and nice stadium.
TLB2001
Excuse me, Kansas City is NOT in the south. I know the stadium is in Missouri, but the namesake was on the winning side of the Civil War, thank you very much.
HalosHeavenJJ
Good place to raise a family. A fan base that likes baseball but probably won’t mob your family at dinner. Big houses, relatively low taxes, no road trip is all that bad compared to being on a coast.
I grew up in a small town. I’d probably prefer KC to many MLB cities.
transwair2
I sat an adjoining table to Joe Montana once and nobody interrupted him at all. He got to eat his entire meal in peace.
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
Well… Maybe things like “they have a history of taking care of players loyal to the organization.”
wu tang killa beez
It’s not too much for Perez, he’s an icon in KC, top 10 catcher in the majors and brings a lot more to the Royals than his performances on the field.
He is a respected veteran and he’s earned the right to sign this kind of contract. I always enjoyed to see him play and I’m glad he got his money. KC will never get near the luxury tax so who cares
HalosHeavenJJ
Not much that hasn’t been said.
KC overpaid a bit. KC under paid him previously. Is is a shrewd business move? No. Is it a class thing to do? Yes.
Tdat1979
I think it’s a good move with all the young pitchers starting to come up in KC. You need a veteran catcher with leadership skills to help the youngsters succeed.
kiddhoff
Perez is getting paid well for the exact reasons Yadi gets paid well. Theyre both strong leaders who know how to call games and handle young pitchers. I really like Realmuto, but he’s destined for 1b/dh. Id rather spend $20mil/yr on Perez or (the (pre 2020) Yadi than I would Realmuto.
Cosmo2
Why is Realmuto destined for 1B?
kiddhoff
Because that’s what almost all offense-first catchers do. You got a catcher with a great bat, eventually you’re going to do everything you can to prevent injuries. And catching increases your chances of injury
kiddhoff
google.com/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/am…
This article was from 2011.kind of interesting
Cosmo2
JT doesn’t really have a great bat though. And the bat is going to decline. His value is based on him being a very good hitting and fielding catcher. His value plummets if he’s moved to first as he loses his defensive/positional value and the bat won’t play as well at the position.
kiddhoff
His bat is what got him big money. If it wasn’t for his bat, do you think he would’ve gotten more than McCann?
LordD99
I’m still surprised McCann got $40M. He’s a BUC.
Cosmo2
Paying Realmuto over 20 million a year to be a 2 WAR first baseman is a pretty bad deal. He’s a top hitting catcher with a great glove, a much better glove than McCann. At first base his bat will be middle of the pack at best.
rememberthecoop
People complain when a team doesn’t sign it’s own players, but then they complain that when they do they paid too much. Can’t win sometimes.
dodgerblue1
Let’s not forget Sal Perez was on one of the lost team friendly contracts in the league during his early part of his career, small market or not, KC is doing right by a franchise player
jorge78
That’s what I love about the Royals organization. Nothing but class!
Legacy
Kansas City just needs two big years out of this contract for it to pay off for their next playoff push. Some seem to not realize how rested Perez is after a missed season and a partial season. I’d put him at around a .270ish 27-32hr clip while raising a young rotation next season and the one to follow. If KC makes another World Series out of this nobody will care what they paid Perez.