Seattle Mariners pen mega deal with Julio Rodriguez

Multiple sources in MLB have reported that the Seattle Mariners and Julio Rodriguez have come to terms on a massive long-term deal. While sweet for the Dominican rookie outfielder, it contains extension clauses which, if exercised, could turn this into the longest and largest in MLB history.

In its base form, it is an eight-year, $120 million deal, running from this season to the end of 2029. Before that final season, the Mariners must decide whether or not to exercise their club option, and that is where the potential for gain really multiplies.

Depending on the young outfielder’s performance and how he finishes up in American League MVP voting, they could option him for eight or ten years and could earn him between $200 million and $350 million. If they don’t pick him up, he could enter free agency just before his 30th birthday.

If Seattle pick up this option, Rodriguez will be guaranteed $320 million, and depending upon his performance could push up to $470 million, which would make it the largest dollar-value deal in baseball history. The deal at that point would also be the longest one on record, running for a total of 18 years.

Julio Rodriguez has taken major league baseball by storm since making the Opening Day roster, blossoming into one of the most exciting players in the game. Brought up directly from the Dominican Republic as a corner outfielder who could hit for power back in 2017, he has turned into a powerful and fast center fielder who has become only the twelfth rookie ever to join the 20-20 club.

His season has included an All-Star game selection and a .269/.328/.471 slash line, and this deal looks like a win for everyone concerned. The Mariners lock him in for the foreseeable future at below market value and Rodriguez can turn that initial contract into one for the record books.