“`html
Oakland Athletics outfielder Tyler Soderstrom and the club have agreed to a seven-year, $86 million contract extension, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports. The deal,announced December 25,includes a club option for the 2033 season and potential performance-based escalators that could increase the total value by another $45 million.
A’s Lock Up Young Core wiht Soderstrom Extension
The extension secures a key piece of the A’s offense,buying out at least three potential free agent years.
- Soderstrom’s deal is the largest in Athletics franchise history.
- The extension reflects Oakland’s commitment to building around young talent.
- The A’s have now secured soderstrom, Brent rooker, and Lawrence Butler with long-term contracts.
The agreement ensures Soderstrom remains with the A’s through his age-31 season. He joins Brent Rooker and Lawrence butler as core offensive players locked up on long-term deals. Rooker and Butler received guarantees of $60 million and $65.5 million, respectively, last winter. Soderstrom’s contract surpasses both, establishing a new franchise high-water mark, previously held by Luis Severino’s three-year, $67 million free agent contract.
Soderstrom, a left-handed hitter drafted in the first round in 2020, has consistently displayed offensive prowess since high school. Initially drafted as a catcher, scouts widely believed a position change would be necessary. He has primarily played first base, with only 15 MLB starts behind the plate during his 2023 rookie season.
After a challenging rookie campaign, Soderstrom showed significant improvement in 2024, posting a .233/.315/.429 slash line across 213 plate appearances.Though, he hadn’t yet firmly established himself alongside Rooker, Butler, and shea Langeliers as central figures in the A’s lineup. The arrival of 2024 fourth overall pick Nick Kurtz, a highly touted college first baseman, added pressure to Soderstrom’s position.
Soderstrom’s deal reflects Oakland’s commitment to building around a core of young offensive talent, ensuring he’ll continue to play alongside Kurtz, Rooker,
