Padres, Jackson Merrill Agree to Nine-Year, $135-Million Extension
The San Diego Padres are ensuring that outfielder Jackson Merrill will remain with the franchise for at least the next decade.
Less than a week into the 2025 season, the organization has agreed to a nine-year contract extension with Merrill worth $135 million, as FanSided’s Robert Murray first reported Wednesday morning. It’s a significant payday for last season’s NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, who finished second in voting behind Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes.
According to Murray, the 21-year-old’s new deal will kick in next season and can max out at $204 million. Part of that increase is tied to the $30 million in potential escalators included in his contract, and he’ll earn the full amount if he logs at least 500 plate appearances each season from 2026-33.
Additionally, Merrill’s extension – which has been officially announced by the club – also includes a $30 million club option for a 10th season in ‘35.
The deal buys out the young outfielder’s final pre-arbitration season, all three arbitration years and five free-agent years – six if his ‘35 club option is picked up.
Prior to last season, the Baltimore, Maryland, native had yet to appear at a level higher than double-A. He split the 2023 campaign between high-A and double-A, hitting .277/.326/.444 with 15 home runs and 64 RBIs while stealing 15 bases across 114 combined games, accounting for a 108 wRC+ (100 league average).
Merrill, the 27th overall selection by San Diego in 2021, exploded in his first taste of the major leagues last season and helped lead the Padres to the NLDS. He also earned his first career All-Star selection and Silver Slugger Award.
The former shortstop-turned centre fielder led all qualified rookie position players in the majors in games played (156), batting average (.292), slugging percentage (.500), RBIs (90), wRC+ (130) and fWAR (5.3). He also tied for first in home runs with Baltimore’s Colton Cowser with 24.
In his second year with the Padres, Merrill is already considered one of the sport’s brightest young stars and figures to be a franchise pillar over the next decade. After being previously scheduled to hit free agency after the 2029 season, he’ll now be under contract through the prime years of his career.
As such, San Diego’s core position-player group of Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Merrill are all signed through at least the ‘33 season.
The timing of Merrill’s extension comes as the Padres are enjoying their best start to a season in franchise history, as they’ve remained undefeated across their first six games – four against the Atlanta Braves and two versus the Cleveland Guardians. It’s a streak they’ll hope to extend during Wednesday’s series finale at Petco Park.
It’s also been a hot start to the year for Merrill, who’s gone 8-for-20 (.400) with two extra-base hits and six RBIs over his first six contests, blasting his first home run of the campaign – a 411-foot shot to right-centre – off Guardians starter Logan Allen in Tuesday’s 7-0 shutout victory.
Despite coming off a relatively quiet off-season, this season couldn’t have started any better for the surging Padres.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: False Casey. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.