Cole Ragans Stays In Kansas City: Royals Sign Ace Through 2027

The Kansas City Royals aren’t messing around when it comes to keeping their ace. They’ve officially locked in Cole Ragans with a three-year contract extension, making sure their breakout lefty stays in Kansas City while avoiding the headache of arbitration.

The deal, worth $13.25 million, runs from 2025 to 2027 and gives Ragans $1.25 million this year, $4.5 million in 2026, and $7.5 million in 2027. He’ll still have one more year of arbitration in 2028, but after that, he’ll hit free agency.

For the Royals, this deal is a win-win. They get to keep their best pitcher under control without having to play the arbitration game every year. And for Ragans, it’s financial security after a journey that’s been anything but easy.

From Injury Setbacks to the Royals’ Ace

Ragans’ path to stardom wasn’t smooth. He had two Tommy John surgeries early in his career, a nightmare for any pitcher. At one point, he didn’t throw a single professional pitch for almost three years. A lot of guys never make it back from one Tommy John, let alone two. But Ragans kept grinding.

Originally drafted by the Texas Rangers, he made his MLB debut in 2022 but bounced between the majors and minors. Then, in 2023, the Rangers traded him to the Royals for reliever Aroldis Chapman. At the time, it seemed like a standard deal—Kansas City moved a veteran closer for a young arm.

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Turns out, that trade was a steal.

Ragans took off as soon as he got to Kansas City. He went from a decent young pitcher to one of the most dominant left-handers in baseball. His fastball started hitting triple digits, and he mixed in a nasty set of off-speed pitches that kept hitters guessing.

Source: Royals, Cole Ragans agree to 3-year contract extension

Breakout Season Earns Him the Bag

Last year, Ragans put together the kind of season that forces teams to pay attention. He posted a 3.14 ERA with 223 strikeouts and 67 walks over 186⅓ innings—good enough to make his first All-Star team. He wasn’t just a good pitcher. He was an ace.

Alongside Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, Ragans helped lead the Royals to a surprise playoff push. Kansas City wasn’t supposed to be a contender, but their rotation held things down while MVP runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. carried the offense.

Now, with Wacha re-signing in November, the Royals bringing in closer Carlos Estévez, and a big trade that sent Brady Singer to Cincinnati for Jonathan India, the team is clearly trying to build something real.

Cole Ragans Stays in Kansas City: Royals Sign Ace Through 2027

Why the Royals Wanted This Deal Now

Locking in Ragans now is a smart business move for Kansas City. If they had waited and let him go through arbitration, his price could’ve skyrocketed—especially if he wins a Cy Young Award or continues to improve.

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For reference, Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert had similar stats when he hit arbitration, and he got $4.05 million in his first year. If Ragans kept trending upward, he could’ve commanded even more.

Instead, the Royals get him locked in at a team-friendly price, and Ragans gets some financial security. It’s a solid deal for both sides.

What’s Next for Ragans and the Royals?

With Ragans locked in, the Royals are setting themselves up to be more than just a scrappy underdog—they’re trying to be a real contender.

They’ve got a legit ace in Ragans, a strong rotation with Wacha and Lugo, a beefed-up bullpen, and one of the best young hitters in baseball in Witt Jr..

The question now is: Can they take the next step?

If Ragans keeps dominating, and the Royals’ front office continues making smart moves, don’t be surprised if Kansas City makes some noise in the AL over the next few years.