Padres Continue To Lockup Their Core With Extension Of All-Star Jackson Merrill For 9 Years, $135 Million

Last week, the San Diego Padres announced that they have agreed to a nine-year, $135 million extension with outfielder Jackson Merrill.

The deal includes a $30 million club option for a tenth season. The deal can reach up to $204 million for the All-Star. If Merrill finishes in the top five in MVP voting at any time during the contract, the club option turns into a player option.

Merril is batting .400 with six RBIs just six games into the 2025 season.

The former first-round pick now joins a core of players the Padres have locked up until 2030 or further. Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts are all slated to stay in San Diego until at least 2033, barring any unforeseen changes.

The Padres’ President of Baseball Operations, A.J. Preller, spoke to Merrill about taking a deal that many consider to be “team-friendly.”

“He was very clear in terms of ‘I want to be able to take care of my family for years to come, and I want to do it in a way that there can be a great team built around me,'” Preller said during Wednesday’s press conference.

The statement is indicative of Merrill’s commitment to the Padres organization.

The extension does not kick in until the 2026 season. Merrill has a salary of $809,500 after bringing home $1,191,534 from the pre-arbitration bonus pool last season.

Merrill, who is just 21 years old, made his major league debut with the Padres in 2024. As a rookie, Merrill batted .292 with 24 home runs and 90 RBIs. He was named an All-Star and All-MLB Second Team.