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.

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: