The San Diego Padres signed the star gardener Jackson Merrill with a nine -year contract extension on Wednesday for a value of $ 135 million.
Merrill, 21, last year ended second in the rookie race of the year of the National League and ninth in the MVP race of the National League and was appointed for the NL All-Star team.
Merrill’s nine-year contract extends since 2026-2034. He obtains salaries of $ 1 million in 2026, $ 6 million in 2027, $ 8 million in 2028, $ 10 million in 2029 and $ 20 million annually since 2030-34, according to The Associated Press.
CLICK HERE for more sports coverage at Foxnews.com
The gardener of the San Diego Parent Center, Jackson Merrill, is congratulated after reaching a solitary home run during the fourth entrance against the Cleveland Guardians in Petco Park on April 1, 2025. (Denis Poroy/Imagn images)
San Diego has an option of $ 21 million by 2034 that will become a player option with the same salary if it ends among the five best in the MVP vote in any season since 2026-34, the AP reported.
Merrill would have been eligible for arbitration after the 2026 season and for free agency after the 2029 World Series.
In addition to the salary, Merrill will get a hotel suite in Team Road Trips.
Why the relationship of Olivia Dunne and Paul Skenes almost never took off
The first base of the parents of San Diego, Arráez (4) celebrates with the central gardener Jackson Merrill (3) after a victory over the Braves of Atlanta in Petco Park on March 29, 2025. (David Frerker/Imagn images)
Last season, Merrill played in 156 games and hit .292 with 24 homers, 90 driven races and 16 stolen bases while playing a strong defense in the central garden. In seven postseason games, Merrill hit .250 with a homer and five ranked races.
Merrill began his 2025 campaign by balancing a hot bat and has hit .400 with a home run and six ranges, helping to boost parents to a 6-0 start.
San Diego’s parents left gardener Jason Heyward (22), on the left, Jackson Merrill (3), Center, and Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) celebrate after the parents beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-0 in Petco Park on April 1, 2025. (Denis Poroy/Imagn images)
With the extension of the contract for Merrill, the parents have their central gardener and right gardener Fernando Tatis Jr. signed until 2034.
Parents will seek to continue their strong start when they go to a sweep of three games from the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday at 4:10 pm et.
