After a standout All-Star season, Kansas City left-hander Cole Ragans has agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Royals, the team announced on Friday.
While the Royals have not disclosed the financial details, multiple sources report the deal is valued at $13.25 million.
Ragans, 27, will remain under contract through the 2028 season. According to ESPN, he will earn $1.25 million in 2025, $4.5 million in 2026, and $7.5 million in 2027.
In his second year with Kansas City in 2024, Ragans emerged as the team’s ace, playing a key role in their postseason appearance. He finished the season with an 11-9 record and a 3.14 ERA in 32 starts.
Ragans led the American League with 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings, amassing 223 strikeouts and 67 walks over 186 1/3 innings. In his two postseason starts, he posted a 1-1 record with a 0.90 ERA, allowing just one run over 10 innings.
A first-round pick by the Texas Rangers in the 2016 draft (No. 30 overall), Ragans faced setbacks with two Tommy John surgeries before making his MLB debut in 2022. After 26 appearances (nine starts) over two seasons with Texas, he was traded to the Royals in June 2023 for Aroldis Chapman and became a key member of Kansas City’s rotation.
Over his three major league seasons, Ragans has a record of 18-17 with a 3.46 ERA in 70 games (53 starts), totaling 322 1/3 innings, 363 strikeouts, and 124 walks.
