Following his first All-Star season, Kansas City left-hander Cole Ragans signed to a three-year contract extension with the Royals, the organization announced Friday.
The Royals would not confirm financial parameters, but various sources said the agreement was worth $13.25 million.
Ragans, 27, who will become a free agency after the 2028 season, will make $1.25 million in 2025, $4.5 million in 2026, and $7.5 million in 2027, according to ESPN.
Ragans established himself as the team’s ace in his second season in Kansas City in 2024, helping the club reach the playoffs with an 11-9 record and a 3.14 ERA in 32 starts.
He led the American League with 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings, totaling 223 whiffs and 67 walks in 186 1/3 innings. In two postseason starts, he went 1-1 with a 0.90 ERA and allowed one run in 10 innings.
Ragans was the Texas Rangers’ first-round pick (No. 30 overall) in 2016, but he had two Tommy John operations and did not make it to the majors until 2022. After making 26 appearances (nine starts) for Texas over two seasons, he was traded to the Royals in June 2023 in exchange for Aroldis Chapman and joined Kansas City’s rotation.
Ragans is 18-17 with a 3.46 ERA in 70 games (53 starts) spanning 322 1/3 innings, 363 strikeouts, and 124 walks across three seasons in the majors.
