Mariners Extend Julio Rodriguez With Unique, Lucrative Contract

The Seattle Mariners are investing in their best future asset — and doing so with an extremely unique contract.

On Friday, rookie superstar Julio Rodriguez agreed to a new contract with the Mariners that guarantees him $210 million and keeps him with the team for at least eight seasons. MLB.com’s Jesse Chavez was the first to report the deal.

Those figures are the minimum guarantees of the deal, though, as the contract is far from simple, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

• After the initial eight-year, $120M period, Seattle will have a club option for either eight or 10 years, and between $200M-$350M depending on how Rodriguez finishes in MVP voting over that period.
• If the Mariners do not pick up the option, Rodriquez has a five-year, $90M player option he can exercise after Year 8 of the initial deal. He can also choose to hit free agency going into his age 30 season.
• If Rodriguez gets the maximum return on the contract, it will be the largest payout in MLB history at $470M.

Rodriguez has been one of the stars for a resurgent Seattle squad that currently holds an American League Wild Card spot and is looking to end the longest active playoff drought in MLB at 20 years.

Rodriguez is the overwhelming favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year (-425).