LAS VEGAS (AP) — Outfielder Jacob Young and the Washington Nationals finalized a $23 million, four-year contract on Wednesday, a deal that includes a $6 million signing bonus shielded from a lockout.
Young's signing bonus is payable in $1.5 million annual installment each Dec. 1 from 2026-29.
He gets salaries of $1 million next season, $5 million each in 2028 and 2029, and $6 million in 2030.
Washington has an $8 million team option for 2031 with no
buyout. The option price would escalate by $500,000 if he finishes among the top 15 in any Most Valuable Player vote from 2027-30, with a maximum increase of $500,000.
Young would receive a one-time $2 million assignment bonus if traded.
He had been eligible for salary arbitration this offseason after earning $794,200 this year.
“Already one of the top defenders in Major League Baseball, we all saw the significant step forward Jacob took offensively in 2026 and we anticipate continued development in the years to come,” Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said in a statement. "He is a tremendous representative of the organization and we are excited to have him in the fold for the next several years.”
Young, who turned 27 in late July, set a career high with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs this year while batting .252. He entered the season with five home runs in 1,006 big league plate appearances.
He finished third among NL center fielders in outs above average and runs prevented. He was a Gold Glove Award finalist in 2024 and '25.
The contract was announced three weeks before owners are expected to lock out players after the collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1, a decision that would put next season in jeopardy.
___
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
