Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and the Oakland Athletics have reached an agreement on a seven-year contract worth $86 million, according to a source familiar with the discussions. This contract also includes a club option for an eighth season, the source told The Associated Press on Thursday, requesting anonymity because the deal is not yet finalized.
The contract depends on Soderstrom passing a physical exam and contains a bonus clause that could potentially raise its total value to $131 million. Soderstrom played in 158 games last season, starting 145 of them, including 100 games in left field. This was his first full season in the major leagues since his debut in 2023, following 45 games that year and 61 games the previous season. He finished the season with a .276 batting average, 25 home runs, 93 RBIs, 141 strikeouts, and 55 walks.
At 24 years old, Soderstrom was the 26th overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft by the Athletics. By signing this long-term deal, he chooses to stay near his hometown of Turlock, California. He was set to become arbitration-eligible after the 2026 season and a free agent after 2029.
With plans to relocate to Las Vegas in 2028, the Athletics recently signed designated hitter/outfielder Brent Rooker to a five-year, $60 million contract and outfielder Lawrence Butler to a seven-year, $65.5 million deal. Currently, the team is in its second of three seasons at the Triple-A ballpark in West Sacramento.
Fan Take: This signing signals the Athletics’ commitment to building a strong, competitive team through young, homegrown talent, which is thrilling for the fanbase. It also highlights the strategic moves by smaller-market teams to keep top players long-term, potentially reshaping how team loyalty and development impact the sport’s future.
