The Seattle Mariners are said to be finalizing a massive contract extension with All-Star rookie Julio Rodriguez that has the potential to be worth nearly a half-billion dollars.
The complex deal has a number of option clauses, and if all are executed, the contract would max out at $470 million, ESPN reported.
The new deal would kick in next season and run through 2029, with a base value of $120 million, per ESPN. After that, the Mariners can pick up an option of eight to 10 years that would be worth between $200 million and $350 million. The value would be tied to performance clauses during the first eight years of the deal.
If the Mariners decide not to pick up the option, the choice would fall to Rodriguez. He could choose to opt in to a five-year deal worth $90 million or, at age 29, become a free agent.
The 21-year-old center fielder entered Friday batting .269 with 20 homers, 23 steals and 64 RBIs in 108 games.
Rodriguez was the American League’s Rookie of the Month in May and June and was runner-up to Juan Soto at the Home Run Derby on July 18 at Dodger Stadium.
Baseball’s biggest contract belongs to Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who is playing on a 12-year, $426.5 million deal with an average annual value of $35.5 million. Two New York pitchers — Max Scherzer ($43.3 million) of the Mets and Gerrit Cole ($36 million) of the Yankees — have contracts with higher annual average values.
–Field Level Media
