Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore simply wasn’t willing to watch Salvador Perez — the organization’s homegrown multi-time All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger catcher — walk away in free agency.
Perez has repeated his desire to remain with the Royals, and the club announced Sunday they reached a franchise record four-year contract extension with the 2015 World Series MVP.
“We all know why everybody has believed in you all these years, because you’ve earned it,” Moore said, turning and looking Perez in the eye. “And people love being around you. They pull for you, and it’s special that we get a chance to keep you here.”
The deal is worth $82 million guaranteed, with an average annual value of $20.5 million, a source with knowledge of the contract told The Star. It will pay Perez $18 million in 2022, $20 million in 2023 and 2024, $22 million in 2025 and includes a $13.5 million fifth-year club option or $2 million buyout.
Perez’s contract surpasses the previous club record deal given to left fielder Alex Gordon in 2016: four years for $72 million with a $4 million buyout on a fifth-year option.
The extension also moves Perez closer to remaining a Royal for his entire career, something Gordon did prior to retiring last fall.
“Alex is one of the best teammates,” Perez said. “I played with him for a lot of years, and to have the opportunity to be like him and stay in the organization for a long time is a good opportunity for me.”
As far as garnering the biggest contract in club history, Perez said, “I think Dayton believes in myself and what I do in the field.” Perez added that his hope is to play hard and get the club back to the playoffs.
Perez missed the 2019 season after Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow.
In 2020, Perez spent time on the injured list with an eye ailment, but played in 37 games and slashed .333/.353/.633 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs. He garnered his third Silver Slugger award and earned All-MLB First Team honors as selected by MLB.com.
Perez has a bigger frame for a catcher at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, and the four-year extension starts with a season during which he’ll turn 32. Perez turns 31 this May.
“There’s more upside in Salvador,” Moore said. “We believe in him as much as any player we’ve been a part of.”
Perez’s career slash line is .269/.300/.449 with 152 home runs. He’s a six-time All-Star with five Gold Glove awards and three Silver Sluggers.
“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 at the catcher position who is a leader, somebody who brings out the confidence in your pitching staff. Salvy does all of that.”
When asked about his confidence in Perez’s potential longevity, Moore cited Perez’s work ethic and lauded his year-round preparation and dedication as “second to none.” Moore also pointed to Perez’s love and enthusiasm for the sport and the organization’s belief that he’ll maintain that approach.