The San Diego Padres and star young center fielder Jackson Merrill have agreed to terms on a nine-year, $135 million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday. The pact includes a $30 million club option for a 10th season that can be converted into a player option,

The San Diego Padres signed outfielder Jackson Merrill to a nine-year, $135 million contract extension Wednesday morning. More news: Padres Outfielder Remains

The San Diego Padres may have stumbled upon their next homegrown star after asking top prospect Jackson Merrill to make a position change two springs ago. His impressive 2024 breakout campaign resulted in him receiving a 9-year, $135 million contract extension from the franchise.

The Padres locked up their 21-year-old outfielder on Wednesday to a nine-year extension that signals they’re here to stay as a National League contender.

Jackson Merrill, their 21-year-old center fielder who just began his second big-league season, has agreed to a nine-year contract extension that begins in 2026 and guarantees him $135 million. “This is exactly where I want to be,” Merrill said Wedesday morning. “I’ve never imagined myself with any other team.”

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a $135 million, nine-year contract covering 2026-34.

MLB player prop bets and odds for Jackson Merrill on Friday, April 4, 2025, as the San Diego Padres take on the Chicago Cubs.

Jackson Merrill could be sticking around in San Diego for another decade. The Padres and Merrill have agreed to a nine-year, $135 million extension worth a maximum of $204 million, per FanSided's Robert Murray. The deal includes a $30 million club option for a tenth season that can convert to a player option, Murray noted.

The San Diego Padres and All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill agreed to a nine-year, $135 million contract extension, a source familiar with the agreement told UPI on Wednesday.