The Padres are in agreement with star outfielder Jackson Merrill on a nine-year contract extension that guarantees the star $135MM, according to a report from Robert Murray of Fansided. The deal can max out at $204MM and includes a $30MM club option for a tenth season that can be converted to a player option.

All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres agreed Wednesday to a $135 million, nine-year contract covering 2026-34. Merrill’s deal includes a $30 million team option for 2035 that would convert to a player option if he has a top five finish in MVP voting at any point during the contract.

But having a relationship with a real human being and a real team like I have here, you can’t beat that.” Merrill, who turns 22 on April 19, was moved from shortstop to center field in spring training last year when the Padres had only two outfielders on their roster.

But the best comparison as a ballplayer and competitor — and here me out here — is a young Derek Jeter. In Merrill, who signed a nine-year contract extension with the club on Wednesday, the Padres have themselves a mature young dude and gifted baseball rat who’s more concerned about winning the day or night’s game than anything else relating to his job.

Quite a season-opening homestand in San Diego, huh? The Padres put the cherry on top of the best start to a season in franchise history by signing Jackson Merrill to a nine-year extension on Wednesday.

Jackson Merrill and Luis Arraez homered Wednesday as the San Diego Padres extended their franchise-record season-opening winning streak to seven games with a 5-2 win over the visiting Cleveland Guardians.