The San Diego Padres have locked up their rising star Jackson Merrill with a massive nine-year, $135 million contract extension that could eventually be worth up to $204 million.
The deal, announced Wednesday, doesn’t even start until 2026 and will keep the young center fielder in San Diego through at least 2034.
It includes a $30 million club option for a 10th year that could become a player option, potentially extending Merrill’s stay through 2035. By then, he’ll only be 31 or 32 years old.
“As an entire organization, we are excited to make this long-term commitment to Jackson,” said A.J. Preller, the team’s president of baseball operations. “From the day we signed him, Jackson has embodied everything we look for in cornerstone players – a dynamic two-way skillset, a commitment to off-field excellence, and a mentality centered on winning and bringing his teammates with him.”
Merrill has been nothing short of spectacular since arriving in the big leagues.
He turns 22 this month but already plays like a veteran. Despite being brand new to center field after playing mostly shortstop in the minors, he hit .292 with 24 home runs and 16 stolen bases as a rookie last year.
Those numbers were good enough for second place in Rookie of the Year voting.
What’s even more impressive? He only hit into two double plays in 156 games.
Merrill quickly became a key piece of the Padres team that won 93 games last season and knocked off the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card Series. Six games into his second season, he’s still crushing it at the plate.
The former first-round pick now joins a core of Padres stars signed for the long haul. Fernando Tatis Jr. is locked up through 2034, Manny Machado through 2033, and Jake Cronenworth through 2030. Xander Bogaerts, who signed as a free agent before the 2023 season, is also under contract through 2033.
This massive commitment to Merrill comes at an interesting time for the franchise.
Since the death of former owner Peter Seidler, the team has cut payroll while ownership battles have played out in dueling lawsuits. There were even rumors this offseason that the Padres might trade one of their top pitchers, Dylan Cease or Michael King, before they hit free agency.
The Merrill extension might signal that ownership is ready to invest in winning again.
So far, it’s working. The Padres entered Wednesday’s game against Cleveland with a perfect 6-0 record to start the season.
