MLB Rumors: Royals seeking extension with Salvador Perez
By David Weeks
The Royals are looking to extend Salvador Perez.
The Kansas City Royals are looking to extend the contract of starting catcher Salvador Perez. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweeted on Monday that the Royals were trying to rework Perez’s present contract, which originally was a five-year deal signed in 2012 with club options from 2017-19.
Royals are quietly trying to rework/extend sal perez's historically team friendly pact. big plus if done by upcoming fanfest
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 25, 2016
Perez hit .260 and launched 21 home runs while playing 142 games this past season for the World Champion Royals. The World Series Most Valuable Player batted .364 during the World Series.
He recorded 29 runners caught stealing which was second in the majors. His defense separates him as one of the top catchers in the league right now. He has been the Royals’ starting catcher for 137 games last season, 143 games in 2014, and 126 games in 2013. Perez also only committed 20 errors over those three seasons.
His current contract, which has a maximum value of $26.5 million, seems to be very club-friendly. Over the next four seasons, Perez is set to earn $2 million, $3.825 million, $5.15 million, and $6.3 million in 2019 through performance escalators. In 2016 there are 13 other MLB catchers who will make more than Perez.
The Royals should be willing to increase his salary to match those who are considered to be the best in the game. When the Royals first signed Perez it was viewed as a gamble because he had only played part of the 2011 season. It seems now that the gamble has paid off and Perez is a valuable piece to this teams success.