Royals give Pérez 4-year, $82M deal; richest in team history

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 file photo, Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez... — FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 file photo, Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez celebrates with third base coach Vance Wilson after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas City Royals have given six-time All-Star catcher Salvador Pérez the richest contract in club history, a four-year, $82 million deal that begins in 2022. Kansas City announced Sunday, March 21, 2021 it had extended Pérez's time with the team. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)(Charlie Riedel | AP)

Published: Mar. 21, 2021 at 4:58 PM CDT

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The Kansas City Royals have given six-time All-Star catcher Salvador Pérez the richest contract in club history, a four-year, $82 million deal that begins in 2022.

The contract includes a club option worth an additional $13.5 million and has a $2 million buyout for 2026. The deal surpasses the four-year, $72 million contract the Royals gave to outfielder Alex Gordon in 2016.

That deal wound up being a disappointment and Gordon retired after last season. Pérez is coming off a season in which he won his third Silver Slugger. He is also a five-time Gold Glove winner.