Seth Lugo is a right-handed pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, who signed a 3-year, $43 million contract with the team in 2023 and was named to the MLB All-Star team in 2024 after a strong first half of the season.

Trade Seth Lugo? How about extending him? The Royals on Monday finalized a two-year contract extension with Lugo, committing to the right-handed veteran starter until at least 2027 and ending any talk of Lugo leaving Kansas City this summer or the offseason.

Seth Lugo signed on for two more seasons, with the contract holding a vesting option for a third year. The pact guarantees the 35-year-old right-handed pitcher at least $46 million. For whatever you think of the deal — too rich, rather cheap or just right — we should back up to acknowledge a bigger picture: