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

The San Diego Padres and star young center fielder Jackson Merrill have agreed to terms on a nine-year, $135 million contract extension, the team announced Wednesday. The pact includes a $30 million club option for a 10th season that can be converted into a player option,

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a $135 million, nine-year contract covering 2026-34

Off to the best start in franchise history, the Padres finalized a nine-year contract extension with Jackson Merrill on Wednesday morning. Before they even took the field, it was a storybook opening homestand.

But having a relationship with a real human being and a real team like I have here, you can’t beat that.” Merrill, who turns 22 on April 19, was moved from shortstop to center field in spring training last year when the Padres had only two outfielders on their roster.

Merrill arrived at Peoria for his first taste of a major league baseball camp. Immediately, Padres manager Mike Shildt asked him to move to the outfield. Merrill was primarily a shortstop in the minors,

But the best comparison as a ballplayer and competitor — and here me out here — is a young Derek Jeter. In Merrill, who signed a nine-year contract extension with the club on Wednesday, the Padres have themselves a mature young dude and gifted baseball rat who’s more concerned about winning the day or night’s game than anything else relating to his job.

Quite a season-opening homestand in San Diego, huh? The Padres put the cherry on top of the best start to a season in franchise history by signing Jackson Merrill to a nine-year extension on Wednesday.