The Seattle Mariners and star outfielder Julio Rodriguez reportedly agreed on a mega-contract that will play the rookie more than $200 million over the next 14 years.
The structure of Julio Rodriguez's massive extension is very complicated, but the topline details, sources tell ESPN: $210 million guaranteed over 14 years with the ability to grow to well over $400M. Includes player and team options.
The great @JesseSanchezMLB was on the deal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 26, 2022
The potential earnings, however, are much larger: well over $400 million.
Rodriguez is just 21 years old, but is already the leading candidate to win the Rookie of the Year award in the American League by hitting .269/.328/.471 with 20 home runs, 23 stolen bases, a 132 wRC+ (the league average is 100) and 3.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
Whenever a deal of this magnitude is signed, fans start discussing who fleeced who.
However, there are those who can see a good deal for both sides.
good for Seattle and great for Julio Rodriguez
believe me, Washingtonians have more fun when the Mariners play well (see: 1995, 1997-2003, 2022)
yeah, that's a long gap; just blame Bill Bavasi
— Doc Bruce Lee 🇰🇷 (@B_Lee253) August 26, 2022
The Deal Gives Seattle Fans Hope
The most important takeaway for Mariners fans is that this deal gives them something they haven’t really had in a long time: hope.
Hope, because they will now have a legitimate star to build around, signed to an affordable deal so that ownership doesn’t hesitate to spend around the roster if needed.
“The Mariners signing of a young star like Julio Rodriguez is huge for the future of their organization. They now have something to build upon going forward, and chase a World Series,” Full Count Baseball tweeted.
The Mariners signing of a young star like Julio Rodriguez is huge for the future of their organization. They now have something to build upon going forward, and chase a World Series.
— Full Count Baseball (@FullCountMLB) August 26, 2022
The deal is certainly a gamble on the team side: yes, J-Rod is already a game-changing talent, but that doesn’t take away the fact he has less than a year of MLB experience.
It could very well backfire, but for that price, they had to lock up their young star, actually the youngest to sign such a significant deal.
At 21 years, 240 days old, Julio Rodríguez is the youngest player in North American sports history to sign a playing contract worth $200M guaranteed. pic.twitter.com/aqt31UE5C9
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 26, 2022
With excellent hitting skills, good defense in the outfield, athleticism, and speed, Rodriguez has everything to go down as an incredibly productive player in Seattle and a franchise icon.
NEXT: Julio Rodriguez Locked In A Deal In Record Time