We’re just two weeks into the baseball season, and there have already been several big contract extensions handed out. These are my thoughts on the most notable extensions signed since the start of the year.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays: 14 years, $500 million
I was almost done writing this column, and then I woke up to this extension on Monday morning. It’s the fifth-largest contract in sports history, and it keeps Guerrero in Toronto until his age 40 season. It’s an incredible amount of money for a player whose value is completely tied to his bat, as Guerrero is a defensive liability and doesn’t run particularly well. Guerrero was indeed one of the best hitters in baseball last year and boasts prodigious power and excellent plate discipline, but at this price, the extension will only be worth it if Guerrero joins his father in the Hall of Fame.
Garrett Crochet, P, Red Sox: Six years, $170 million
This is a big leap of faith. Crochet’s talent is obvious — he has an electric fastball and exceptional command. Last year, he struck out over 35% of the batters he faced while walking just 5.5%. The risk is that last year was the first time Crochet had been used as a starter, and he’s barely thrown 200 innings in his big league career. He’s also already had Tommy John surgery, so how his elbow will hold up under an intense workload remains to be seen.
Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks: Six years, $116.5 million
While everyone else on this list is still 25 or younger, Marte is a 31-year-old veteran who’s been a mainstay in Arizona for the last eight years. The contract keeps him in Arizona through the 2031 season, when he’ll be 37. It’s a perfect price for Marte, because when he’s at his best, he’s worth far more than $19 million a year, but baseball is a cruel game once you hit 30. Even if Marte doesn’t replicate his success from last year, he’s an important veteran leader on a team with a lot of young players.
Jackson Merrill, CF, Padres: Nine years, $135 million
Merrill, still just 21, is coming off of a sensational rookie campaign where he finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting to Pittsburgh Pirates phenomenon Paul Skenes. He posted a .826 OPS and hit 24 homers and 31 doubles in 2024, and he ranked in the 97th percentile in outs above average, a measure of defensive value. If Merrill continues to play at this level, this contract will be a huge steal for the Padres.
Kristian Campbell, 2B, Red Sox: Eight years, $60 million
Campbell’s rise to the big leagues was nothing short of meteoric, as he posted a combined .997 OPS across three levels of the minor leagues in 2024. Campbell is now the sixth-ranked prospect in baseball, and he’s off to a torrid start in 2025. Of course, there’s the obvious risk that a young player with so little experience won’t pan out, but it’s a worthwhile risk given Campbell’s talent. Not only that, but the Red Sox need to prove to their fans that they care about homegrown talent in the wake of trading away Mookie Betts.
