Elephant Rumblings: Big Extensions for MLB Youngsters

Theres’s an interesting phenomenon that’s developing this season in the MLB. An unusually high number of young ball players are signing large contract extensions well before this would have likely happened in the past. I’m not suggesting this from a judgmental perspective, but some have signed befor

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What is the story about?

Theres’s an interesting phenomenon that’s developing this season in the MLB. An unusually high number of young ball players are signing large contract extensions well before this would have likely happened in the past. I’m not suggesting this from a judgmental perspective, but some have signed before they have even made it to the “bigs”. In this situation I’m not talking about any of the A’s signings. I support them all and am ready for them to sign Nick Kurtz to a long-term deal. I also think the Athletics’

motivation might be different from the other teams. It’s my opinion that the A’s have signed Butler, Wilson and Soderstrom to long term contracts to ensure that they have this young and maturing team when it’s time to move to Las Vegas. This makes sense from a marketing and PR perspective as well as building a team to win in their new digs. But if you take the A’s out of the picture, that still leaves about nine players between the ages of 19-23 who received mega-extensions this past year: all between seven and nine years in duration. Here are the highest paying contracts among those players with the least amount of service time.

• Colt Emerson, SS, Mariners: eight years, $95 million (zero days of service time)

• Cooper Pratt, SS, Brewers: eight years, $50.75 million (zero days of service time)

• Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates: nine years, $140 million (five days of service time)

• Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers: eight years, $150 million (20 days of service time)

• Samuel Basallo, C, Orioles: eight years, $67 million (five days of MLB service)

• Kristian Campbell, 2B, Red Sox: eight years, $60 million (six days of MLB service)

I commend these players for taking advantage of what seems to be new trend in the MLB. These are all highly rated prospects, in fact Baseball America has Griffin and McGonigle ranked number one and number two, and Basallo is not far behind at number nine overall. Clearly these are talented ball players who are likely (barring injuries or other setbacks) to have bright futures.

But that still leaves me wondering why the current glut of players being signed to extensions not only prior to their arbitration years, but prior to any legitimate pro experience. We know it’s not thanks to the kindness and generosity of MLB owners. That only leaves me with the huge question mark of the renegotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Many of us right here on Athletics Nation pages have questioned what the 2027 season will look like if baseball is even played. Has this uncertainty led some owners to pull out the checkbooks and lock down young players. In my experience, budgetary uncertainty usually leads to ultra-conservative spending habits not free spending. So, I ask you, the brain trust of A’s Nation, what you think.