Royals Re-Sign Luke Maile To Minor League Deal

Veteran catcher returns to Kansas City on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 6:39pm

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The Kansas City Royals have re-signed veteran catcher Luke Maile to a minor league deal, giving him an invitation to big league spring training. Maile, who turns 35 today, spent the 2025 season with the Royals, appearing in 25 games and hitting .244/.346/.356.

Why it matters

The Royals are looking to add depth behind the plate as they transition their catching duties from longtime franchise star Salvador Perez to younger prospect Carter Jensen. Maile provides experienced catching depth as the Royals look to manage Perez's workload in the coming season.

The details

Maile is a journeyman catcher who has played in the majors for over a decade, making his debut in 2015. While he has never been a big offensive threat, posting a career .209/.277/.320 line, he has received strong reviews for his defensive work behind the plate, with FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus considering him an above-average framer.

  • Maile turns 35 years old today (February 6, 2026).
  • Maile spent the 2025 season with the Royals, appearing in 25 games.

The players

Luke Maile

A veteran catcher who has played in the majors for over a decade, known for his strong defensive work behind the plate.

Salvador Perez

A franchise legend for the Royals, Perez is the team's starting catcher but is seeing his playing time decrease as he ages into his mid-30s.

Carter Jensen

A Royals prospect who made his MLB debut in 2025 and is expected to share catching duties with Perez going forward.

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What’s next

The Royals will look to Maile to provide veteran catching depth and experience as they transition their starting catching duties from Salvador Perez to prospect Carter Jensen.

The takeaway

The Royals' decision to re-sign Luke Maile on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training highlights their focus on building depth and experience behind the plate as they navigate the changing of the guard from franchise icon Salvador Perez to up-and-coming prospect Carter Jensen.