Royals sign Bobby Witt Jr. to a long-term contract

Bobby is staying put.

The Royals have signed Bobby Witt Jr. to a long-term extension that will keep him in Kansas City for over a decade with an 11-year, $288.7 million deal that includes club options that could cover an additional three years, according to ESPN reporter Jeff Passan.

The deal gives Witt some flexibility with opt-outs after the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth year of the contract. The Royals would also have a club option after the eleventh season that could allow them to pay $89 million over three years, bringing the total value of the contract at $377 million.

This would be the biggest contract in club history by far, making Bobby the first Royals player ever to get a $100 million deal, let alone a $200 million deal. Witt is coming off a season where he finished seventh in MVP voting, hitting .276/.319/.495 with 30 home runs and 49 steals, making him the first 30/30 player in club history.

More details to come as this story develops, but suffice to say, this is terrific news for Royals fans and an excellent commitment to getting back to winning baseball in Kansas City.