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West Sacramento, January 30, 2026 – The Oakland Athletics just locked up another cornerstone of their future, signing shortstop Jacob Wilson to a seven-year, $70 million contract with a club option for an eighth year. ItS a notable investment in a 23-year-old who’s quickly becoming a fan favorite, and a clear signal the A’s are serious about building a competitive team despite their looming move to las Vegas.
A’s Secure Wilson Through 2033, Signaling Long-Term Commitment
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The deal guarantees Wilson $70 million, solidifying his place as a key player for years to come.
- Wilson, drafted sixth overall in 2023, blossomed into an All-Star in 2025.
- The contract is the eighth-largest guarantee for a player with under two years of major league service.
- The A’s are rapidly securing their young core, including Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler, to long-term deals.
Wilson’s ability to put the ball in play is remarkable. He slashed .311/.355/.444 with 13 home runs, 26 doubles, and five stolen bases in his breakout 2025 season. Among 560 big leaguers with at least 40 plate appearances,his 7.5% strikeout rate was second-lowest in the league,trailing only Luis Arraez.
A Contact Hitter with Room to Grow
While Wilson excels at making contact, the quality of that contact is an area for potential growth. He averaged just 84.6 mph off the bat, with a low 2.2% barrel rate and 24.1% hard-hit rate. Despite this, his knack for finding holes-aided by a high ground-ball rate-has made him a consistent offensive threat.
Comparable Contracts and Team Investments
the seven-year,$70 million term is comparable to recent extensions for Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (seven years,$63.5 million) and Wilson’s teammate, Lawrence butler (seven years, $66.5 million). It falls slightly short of Michael Harris II’s eight-year, $72 million deal with the Atlanta Braves.
Wilson’s extension is the eighth-largest guarantee given to a player with less than two years of big league service. It’s the second-largest deal in Athletics history, trailing only the recent seven-year, $86 million extension for teammate Tyler Soderstrom, who received a larger deal due to having an extra year of service time.
Alongside Wilson, Soderstrom, Butler, and slugger Brent Rooker (five years, $60 million) have all signed long-term contracts in the past 15 months, giving the A’s control of multiple free-agent years for each player.
The A’s are still negotiating with Nick Kurtz, whose performance-36 home runs and a .290/.383/.619 slash line in 117 games-will likely command a higher price tag.Though, he remains under team control for five seasons.
With thes commitments, the A’s have addressed potential concerns regarding their use of revenue-sharing funds. Their payroll is now at $139 million, exceeding the $105 million threshold required last winter.
Future Pitching Prospects
While the A’s boast an exciting young lineup, their pitching remains a work in progress. They’re hoping for contributions from top prospects Gage Jump and jamie Arnold, both ranked among the top 50 prospects in the game. Jump reached Double-A in 2024, while Arnold, a 2024 draft pick, is yet to begin his professional career.
The Athletics will continue to play in West Sacramento for two more seasons before their planned move to Las Vegas in 2028. If Wilson, Soderstrom, and Butler remain healthy, the A’s have a promising young core to showcase as they seek to attract fans in their new market.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the agreement and contract
