MLB teams are increasingly locking up top prospects to long-term extensions before they ever reach the majors, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, as teams bet on upside and cost certainty ahead of a looming CBA expiration.
The Seattle Mariners recently handed infielder Colt Emerson an $95 million, eight-year deal — the largest pre-debut contract in league history — while the Milwaukee Brewers are finalizing a $50.75 million extension with shortstop Cooper Pratt, who posted just a .691 OPS at Double-A last season.
The gamble is simple: teams project surplus value, young players trade ceiling for security, and with free agency rules potentially changing in the next CBA, locking up talent early may prove shrewder than it looks.
Source: Why some MLB teams are willing to offer long-term deals to unproven top prospects – The Athletic