USA Today Sports

The Kansas City Royals signed INF/OF Whit Merrifield to a 4-year, $16.25M extension.

The deal includes a $2.75M club option for 2023 with a $750,000 buyout.

KC has now bought out one pre-arbitration season and all three of his arbitration-eligible seasons.

Merrifield turned 30 earlier this month and batted .304/.367/.438 with 12 homers and an MLB-best 45 steals in 2018.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtMT9kig2y3/