Jacob Wilson Signs Multi-Million Extension with the Athletics
The talented shortstop Jacob Wilson and the Athletics have reached an agreement for a seven-year contract, with a club option for an eighth season. The team’s official announcement confirms the addition of another young star to their promising core, as the franchise prepares for its move to Las Vegas.
Sources close to the matter reveal that the contract amounts to $70 million.
Wilson, 23 years old, finished second in the voting for the American League Rookie of the Year last season, after recording a batting average of .311/.355/.444 with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs in 125 games. The award was given to his teammate Nick Kurtz.
In addition to Wilson and Kurtz, All-Star designated hitter Brent Rooker and outfielders Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler are under contract through at least 2030. Wilson and Soderstrom are under team control through 2033, Butler through 2032, and Rooker through 2030.
Selected by the A’s with the sixth pick of the 2023 draft, Wilson proved his worth in the minor leagues, batting .393/.439/.601 and debuting in the majors just under a year after being drafted.
With exceptional skills in connecting with the ball, Wilson established himself as a future batting champion last season. His ability to connect with the ball surprised evaluators, who feared that his focus on contact would limit his home runs.
Wilson’s approach is a perfect fit for the A’s lineup, which features several power hitters. The team, which added second baseman Jeff McNeil via a trade and signed reliever Mark Leiter Jr. for one year this winter, seeks to compete with its offense, hoping that promising pitchers Jamie Arnold and Gage Jump will join the rotation in the near future.
The team is facing its second year in Sacramento, where it plans to spend three seasons before the inauguration of its new stadium in Las Vegas in 2028. Owner John Fisher agreed to move the team to Las Vegas from Oakland, where it had played since 1968, and has increased this year’s payroll to an estimated $90 million. The A’s highest Opening Day payroll was $92.2 million in 2019.
