The San Diego Padres have become known for locking down their brightest young stars to massive, long-term deals—think Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. Now, they’ve reportedly done it again, this time with one of the league’s rising talents. After emerging as the latest cornerstone to the Padres’ future, they locked Jackson Merrill in a massive extension deal. But, unlike past celebrations surrounding such deals, Merrill’s extension has sparked debate among fans and analysts.
The news of the massive extension first broke on Wednesday, with MLB insider Robert Murray of FanSided leading the coverage. He tweeted: “BREAKING: Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a nine-year, $135 million contract extension, sources say.” Murray added that the complex deal, negotiated by KHG Sports, includes incentives that could raise the total value to $204 million. It also features a club option for a tenth season. This immediately placed Merrill’s long-term future and its hefty price tag under the microscope of the baseball world.
BREAKING: Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres are in agreement on a nine-year, $135 million contract extension, sources say. The deal, which can max out at $204 million and includes a $30 million club option for a tenth season that can convert to a player option, was…
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) April 2, 2025
Merrill burst onto the Big League scene in 2024 as an exceptionally talented 21-year-old rookie sensation. He made a seamless transition to center field. He hit an excellent .292 with 24 home runs, 90 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases, and an. 826 OPS. His phenomenal performance earned him a surprise All-Star selection, a Silver Slugger award, a runner-up finish for NL Rookie of the Year, and even Top-10 MVP votes–an incredible debut by any standard.
Even with that remarkable rookie season, the reported $135 million guaranteed over nine years felt low to many observers. Merrill’s eye-popping 2024 figures compared favorably to Julio Rodríguez’s AL Rookie of the Year campaign. After which, Rodríguez earned his own lucrative deal from Seattle. Some analysts had projected Merrill’s eventual worth to exceed $300 million based on his potential career trajectory. The deal’s roughly $15 million average annual value also seems modest next to Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $24 million average (though Tatis signed after two seasons). Locking up Merrill at that rate for several prime years of free agency ahead looks potentially very team-friendly move.
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