Royals and Bobby Witt Jr. concur on a reported 11-year, $288.8 million contract extension

The Kansas City Royals and Bobby Witt Jr. have reached an agreement on a contract extension worth $288.8 million over 11 seasons, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

As outlined by Passan, the agreement allows for potential opt-out clauses for Witt after the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth seasons, with a club option following the eleventh season that could extend the deal by three years and $89 million.

The only player to have secured a more lucrative pre-arbitration extension in MLB history is Fernando Tatis Jr., who signed a 14-year, $340 million contract in 2021. Nevertheless, Witt's deal has the potential to surpass that sum should the Royals exercise the option for the final three years.

However, should Witt emerge as one of baseball's premier stars, he may opt out of the contract earlier, seeking a more substantial deal or potentially joining a more competitive team if the Royals fail to improve.