According to ESPN’s MLB Insider Jeff Passan, Padres star Shortstop, Fernando Tatis Jr., the emerging face of baseball, agreed to a 14-year, $340 million contract extension with the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
Securing one of the largest guarantees in American sports history. Tatis, 22, will receive the third-biggest deal in baseball history and do so at a far younger age than Mike Trout and Mookie Betts, both of whom signed their mega deals at 27.
The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Tatis, whose dazzling shortstop play is perhaps exceeded by his prowess at the plate, went to San Diego via trade and is now the player around whom the Padres will build a team equipped to win a championship.
Fernando Tatis Sr. showing his sons how it’s done. 😂
Tatis will receive a full no-trade clause, allowing him veto power over any potential deal. The $340 million marks the largest deal given to a player before he reaches arbitration — nearly $200 million more than Trout’s first contract extension. Trout’s second extension set a domestic sports record of $426.5 million guaranteed, and Betts’ $392 million deal is now followed by Tatis’ contract.
Tatis joins Manny Machado, who plays third base next to him, as Padres with $300 million-plus deals — and they join New York Yankees duo Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton as teammates with such gaudy contracts. Both Machado and Tatis are represented by agent Dan Lozano.
At 22 years old, he is the youngest player ever chosen for the cover.
