Is 2025 Salvy’s swan song with the Royals?

With only a club option left on his contract, 2025 could be Perez’s last as a Royal.

Salvador Perez’s time in Kansas City may be winding down.

Perusing Spotrac the other evening, I noticed that this upcoming season is Salvy’s final guaranteed year on his contract. Now that wasn’t a secret, and I probably knew this already but I had forgotten that fact. Still, that’s a stark thing to realize—the franchise’s bridge from 2015 to this new era led by Bobby Witt Jr. and other up-and-coming players may not be around next season.

Breaking it down, Perez signed a four-year, $82 million contract extension that started in the 2022 season that includes a club option for a fifth season at a reduced cost or a buyout. In 2022, he earned $18 million followed by $20 million in 2023, 2024, and in 2025. Next year, the Royals can exercise an option on Perez for $13.5 million or buy him out for $2 million.

Perez turns 35 in May. For most of the 2026 season, he’ll play as a 36-year-old.

There are numerous things to consider when contemplating Perez’s return next year.

The most obvious, and biggest, is how he performs in 2025. Should he produce like he did last season—slashing .271/.330/.456 for an OPS 19% above league-average while starting 90 times behind the plate plus another 44 times at first—then yes, picking up the club option makes total sense for the Royals.

Really, if Perez performs like last year, he may be looking for a raise. I’m sure his preference would be to stay with the Royals, but keep in mind his age—it will be his last chance at a substantial payday. Maybe he’ll want to stick to earning $20 million.

You might be asking, for a dude who’s made almost $130 million during his playing career, what’s the difference between $20 million and $13.5 million?

The answer to that: $6.5 million.

However, if Perez’s production instead mirrors that of 2023, then the Royals may cut that $2 million check without blinking an eye and bid farewell to the most important Royals player since Jeff King George Brett.

In ‘23, Perez only posted an OPS of .714, which was 8% below league average. For a team like the Royals, no matter how important the player, you can’t keep around a guy for that big of a contract for the little production. There’s always the possibility of Salvy banking the buyout and then coming back at a reduced salary, but who knows how much pride will get in the way of things should that become the situation.

Beyond Perez’s production, this will be an important season to evaluation Freddy Fermin, the other Royals catcher. Fermin, who turns 30 in May, broke out last year, posting a higher (3.0) bWAR than Salvy (2.5) in 47 fewer games at a fraction of the cost. This season, again, Fermin only makes $800,000. He should hit arbitration for the first time this upcoming offseason, but he won’t make much more than he does now.

Thankfully for Salvy’s sake, he’s turned into more than just a catcher, playing first base and also filling in at DH. That versatility certainly helps, but with only so many at-bats to go around, plus some prospects perhaps knocking on the door sooner than expected, Perez may be the odd man out.

Another thing the Royals have going for them is their depth at catcher in the minors with the likes of Blake Mitchell (who’s 20 years old), Carter Jensen (21), and Ramon Ramirez (20). Mitchell’s currently banged up and will miss some time while MLB.com projects Ramirez’s time of arrival in the majors to not be until 2028. Jensen is the wild card, who could force his way on the squad sometime next season.

One more thing to watch: contract extensions. Bobby Witt Jr. and Cole Ragans are the only stars inked long-term—will the Royals look to extend Vinnie Pasquantino this season? What about somewhat smaller deals for the likes of Jonathan India, Michael Massey, and/or Maikel Garcia?

Then the Royals will also, most likely, have to allocate raises for multiple pitchers, like Seth Lugo (who can opt out after the season), Kyle Wright, and Lucas Erceg. Hunter Harvey is in the last year of club control.

There are obviously a lot of moving parts around this situation. Ultimately, it comes down to two parties. If Salvador Perez wants to stay in Kansas City, then no matter how he performs in 2025, accordingly, he’ll take a pay cut or a team discount to remain with the only club he’s ever known.

But the Royals will have to want him to stay. And if they think that they can get his production, or close to it, for a cheaper price, then the unfathomable will become reality in 2025:

This could very well be Salvador Perez’s swan song as a Kansas City Royal.