The San Diego Padres have locked down their center fielder of the future by inking a nine-year, $135 million contract extension with Jackson Merrill. More news

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

Merrill, right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., third baseman Manny Machado and shortstop Xander Bogaerts are all signed, now, through at least 2033. The Padres’ collection of nine-figure contracts — Bogaerts’ and Machado’s, in particular — eventually could hinder efforts to sustain their status as a postseason contender.

All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill signed a nine-year, $135 million extension with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. The 21-year-old's new contract can max out

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.

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.

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.”

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.