<!–>
All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a $135 million, nine-year contract covering 2026-34, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, first reported by FanSided, had not been announced.
Merrill’s deal includes a $30 million team option for 2035 that would convert to a player option if he has a top-five finish in MVP voting at any point during the contract.
ADVERTISEMENT
–>
Merrill, who turns 22 on April 19, made his major-league debut last season and became an All-Star, hitting .292 with 24 home runs, 90 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting to Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes.
He has an $809,500 salary while in the major leagues this year after earning the $740,000 minimum last year and gaining $1,191,534 from the pre-arbitration bonus pool.
Merrill would have been eligible for arbitration after the 2026 season and for free agency after the 2029 World Series.
For the Padres, this gives at least some indication of their plans going forward, following the late-2023 death of principal owner Peter Seidler. His brother, John Seidler, took over as the Padres’ control person, with the team as a whole staying in control of the family and remaining brothers. While the team has cut payroll where it could to get back under the luxury tax threshold while attempting to remain competitive in the National League West, extending Merrill at least signals that they plan on keeping key pieces together for as long as possible.
Signing Merrill now, instead of later — in essence, paying him more in his earliest big-league years to be able to pay him less later than they would’ve had to once he became arbitration-eligible and had more leverage in contract negotiations — shows how the Padres plan to thread this particular needle going forward.
And for Merrill, it’s clear that he expects to win, and to win while with San Diego, as FOX Sports’ Rowan Kavner detailed just last week. “Win a World Series, that’s always the next step. I mean, I could have personal achievements all the live long day, but it doesn’t matter if we’re not winning. That’s how I’ve played the game since I was born — it doesn’t matter what I’m doing on the field if we’re not winning.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Major League Baseball
San Diego Padres
Jackson Merrill
<!–>
recommended
Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
–>
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Use bet365 bonus code CBSBET365, get $200 bonus bets by targeting Louisville-Miami, Dodgers-Brewers on Friday
Friday's sports schedule is jam-packed with college football and MLB postseason action, giving new users an opportunity to use the latest bet365 bonus code CBSBET365, which offers $200 in bonus bets after placing a first wager of $5 or more. No. 2 Miami hosts Louisville in an ACC tilt, while the Dodgers and Brewers square off in Game 4 of the NLCS. SportsLine's proven computer model is backing Louisville to cover the spread as a road underdog, and it is also targeting the Brewers as a large underdog. Claim the latest bet365 bonus code here:Check out our bet365 promo code review for full details.The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB and college football game 10,000 times. It entered the ALCS and NLCS rounds of the 2025 MLB playoffs a profitable 35-29 on top-rated MLB money-line picks this season. It has excelled making home run prop […]
2025 Week 7 NFL score predictions, bets, odds, picks today: Expert reveals exact scores for all 15 matchups
Through six weeks of the NFL season, it's hard to find a team who doesn't have a serious question mark. Two weeks ago, we would've been raving about the undefeated Eagles and Bills. Now both teams have lost two straight games. How about Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, one of the preseason favorites? With Jackson having been out each of the last two weeks, Baltimore enters its bye week 1-5 and is in serious danger of missing the postseason. Even the three-time defending AFC champion Chiefs aren't immune. They sit 3-3 heading into a Week 7 home date with AFC rival Las Vegas, though Kansas City is the largest favorite of the week at -11.5.Which teams would you take today to make the Super Bowl? Before the contenders start to separate from the pretenders, unpredictability in the NFL will continue […]
Nick GUARANTEES Chiefs beat Raiders 😳 Bengals ‘can win AFC North’ after beating Steelers? | FTF
first things first Video Details The Kansas City Chiefs will play the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, and are 11.5 point favorites. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes ask if the Raiders stand any chance of beating the Chiefs, and they discuss the Cincinnati Bengals’ 33-31 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and what it means for the AFC North. 20 MINS AGO・first things first・22:33
Brou expects Eagles to beat Vikings, Time to ‘write off’ loser of Cowboys vs. Commanders? | FTF
first things first Video Details The Philadelphia Eagles will play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday following a 2-game losing streak. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes ask if they should expect a big game from Jalen Hurts, and how much the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders matchup means to both teams’ season. 21 MINS AGO・first things first・12:14
Domínio espanhol: Barcelona e Real Madrid lideram a Champions League feminina
Alexia Putellas é uma das principais jogadoras do Barcelona (Foto: Domenico Cippitelli/Alamy)O futebol feminino europeu vive uma nova era, marcada pelo domínio espanhol. Barcelona e Real Madrid vêm consolidando protagonismo na Champions League feminina, antes monopolizada por clubes franceses e alemães, como Lyon e Wolfsburg. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEO Barça, referência técnica e tática, transformou o estilo de posse de bola em espetáculo e coleciona finais consecutivas. O Real Madrid, ainda em crescimento, amplia seu investimento e começa a encurtar a distância.Prova deste domínio é a classificação da Champions League feminina: o Barcelona é o líder, marcando 11 gols em duas partidas, e o Real Madrid ocupa a segunda posição, vencendo jogos difíceis contra Roma e PSG. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEVocê pode acompanhar a Champions League feminina através da Disney+. O torneio volta a ser disputado no dia 11 de novembro.
The Yankees are at war: the general manager reacts against legends such as Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter
Criticism was quick to come after the New York Yankees were eliminated in the American League Division Series by the Toronto Blue Jays. From their position as analysts at Fox Sports, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez - two of the club's greatest historical figures - had no qualms about questioning the current direction of the team.Rodriguez, in particular, was blunt, calling the Yankees "one of the worst roster constructions I've ever seen", a phrase that quickly ignited debate on social media and in the New York baseball community.Shohei Ohtani launches monster home run out of Dodger Stadium during batting practiceJeter was more diplomatic, but no less critical. He said that manager Aaron Boone does not seem to have full control over tactical decisions. "I'm pretty sure Aaron is not the one ordering every move they make during the game," he […]
Related
Use bet365 bonus code CBSBET365, get $200 bonus bets by targeting Louisville-Miami, Dodgers-Brewers on Friday
Friday's sports schedule is jam-packed with college football and MLB postseason action, giving new users an opportunity to use the latest bet365 bonus code CBSBET365, which offers $200 in bonus bets after placing a first wager of $5 or more. No. 2 Miami hosts Louisville in an ACC tilt, while the Dodgers and Brewers square off in Game 4 of the NLCS. SportsLine's proven computer model is backing Louisville to cover the spread as a road underdog, and it is also targeting the Brewers as a large underdog. Claim the latest bet365 bonus code here:Check out our bet365 promo code review for full details.The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB and college football game 10,000 times. It entered the ALCS and NLCS rounds of the 2025 MLB playoffs a profitable 35-29 on top-rated MLB money-line picks this season. It has excelled making home run prop […]
2025 Week 7 NFL score predictions, bets, odds, picks today: Expert reveals exact scores for all 15 matchups
Through six weeks of the NFL season, it's hard to find a team who doesn't have a serious question mark. Two weeks ago, we would've been raving about the undefeated Eagles and Bills. Now both teams have lost two straight games. How about Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, one of the preseason favorites? With Jackson having been out each of the last two weeks, Baltimore enters its bye week 1-5 and is in serious danger of missing the postseason. Even the three-time defending AFC champion Chiefs aren't immune. They sit 3-3 heading into a Week 7 home date with AFC rival Las Vegas, though Kansas City is the largest favorite of the week at -11.5.Which teams would you take today to make the Super Bowl? Before the contenders start to separate from the pretenders, unpredictability in the NFL will continue […]
Nick GUARANTEES Chiefs beat Raiders 😳 Bengals ‘can win AFC North’ after beating Steelers? | FTF
first things first Video Details The Kansas City Chiefs will play the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, and are 11.5 point favorites. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes ask if the Raiders stand any chance of beating the Chiefs, and they discuss the Cincinnati Bengals’ 33-31 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and what it means for the AFC North. 20 MINS AGO・first things first・22:33
Brou expects Eagles to beat Vikings, Time to ‘write off’ loser of Cowboys vs. Commanders? | FTF
first things first Video Details The Philadelphia Eagles will play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday following a 2-game losing streak. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes ask if they should expect a big game from Jalen Hurts, and how much the Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders matchup means to both teams’ season. 21 MINS AGO・first things first・12:14
Domínio espanhol: Barcelona e Real Madrid lideram a Champions League feminina
Alexia Putellas é uma das principais jogadoras do Barcelona (Foto: Domenico Cippitelli/Alamy)O futebol feminino europeu vive uma nova era, marcada pelo domínio espanhol. Barcelona e Real Madrid vêm consolidando protagonismo na Champions League feminina, antes monopolizada por clubes franceses e alemães, como Lyon e Wolfsburg. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEO Barça, referência técnica e tática, transformou o estilo de posse de bola em espetáculo e coleciona finais consecutivas. O Real Madrid, ainda em crescimento, amplia seu investimento e começa a encurtar a distância.Prova deste domínio é a classificação da Champions League feminina: o Barcelona é o líder, marcando 11 gols em duas partidas, e o Real Madrid ocupa a segunda posição, vencendo jogos difíceis contra Roma e PSG. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEVocê pode acompanhar a Champions League feminina através da Disney+. O torneio volta a ser disputado no dia 11 de novembro.
The Yankees are at war: the general manager reacts against legends such as Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter
Criticism was quick to come after the New York Yankees were eliminated in the American League Division Series by the Toronto Blue Jays. From their position as analysts at Fox Sports, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez - two of the club's greatest historical figures - had no qualms about questioning the current direction of the team.Rodriguez, in particular, was blunt, calling the Yankees "one of the worst roster constructions I've ever seen", a phrase that quickly ignited debate on social media and in the New York baseball community.Shohei Ohtani launches monster home run out of Dodger Stadium during batting practiceJeter was more diplomatic, but no less critical. He said that manager Aaron Boone does not seem to have full control over tactical decisions. "I'm pretty sure Aaron is not the one ordering every move they make during the game," he […]
Be the first to leave a comment