The Seattle Mariners didn’t wait long to secure their shortstop of the future — inking 20-year-old prospect Colt Emerson to a record-breaking eight-year, $95 million guaranteed contract (with a club option for a ninth year), making it the largest deal ever handed to a player with zero major league experience, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
The agreement surpasses the previous benchmark set by the Brewers when they signed outfielder Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $82M deal back in December 2023.
Emerson, currently suiting up for Triple-A Tacoma, slashed .285/.383/.458 with 16 home runs and 78 RBI across three levels in 2025 — showing the kind of well-rounded offensive game that made Seattle pull the trigger early.
The move is clearly aimed at replacing J.P. Crawford, whose contract runs out after the 2026 season, and it fits a growing trend of small- and mid-market clubs betting big on elite prospects before they ever see a big-league pitch.
Source: Bob Nightengale of USA Today