Left-hander Cole Ragans And Royals Agree To 13.25 Million, 3-year Contract

All-Star left-hander Cole Ragans and the Kansas City Royals agreed Friday to a 13.25 million, three-year contract.

Ragans gets a 250,000 signing bonus and salaries of 1 million this year, 4.5 million in 2026 and 7.5 million in 2027. His 2027 salary would escalate to 8 million if he wins a Cy Young Award in either 2025 or 2026.

Ragans, 27, remains eligible for salary arbitration after the 2027 season and can become a free agent after the 2028 World Series.

"He earned this contract through his hard work, perseverance and professionalism," Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said in a statement. "He's been an outstanding performer for us at a young age and his success is motivating to us moving forward."

Ragans was 11-9 with a 3.14 ERA in 32 starts last year with 223 strikeouts and 67 walks in 186 1/3 innings. He led AL qualified pitchers with an average of 10.77 strikeouts per nine innings and finished fourth in Cy Young voting.