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Mar 31, 2026, 10:22 AM ET
Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson, who has yet to play in the major leagues, has agreed to an eight-year, $95 million extension, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.
According to Spotrac, it's the largest contract in MLB history for a player with zero service time.
The deal, which was first reported by FanSided, will be completed Tuesday afternoon. Emerson, 20, will remain at Triple-A Tacoma, where he is hitting 5-for-14 with a home run after his first three games.
The extension includes a ninth-year team option as well as full no-trade clause, according to the report, and can reach a maximum value of $130 million.
Emerson, who is ESPN's No. 6 prospect for 2026, slashed .285/.383/.458 with 16 home runs and 78 RBIs at three levels last season, from Class A to Triple-A.
The 22nd overall pick in the 2023 draft out of an Ohio high school, the left-handed-hitting Emerson had a strong spring training, hitting .268/.340/.488 with two home runs while making several excellent plays in the field, cementing the belief that he can be an above-average defender at shortstop.
He's had strong walk and contact rates in the minors and projects as a 20-home run hitter in the majors, with enough raw power to exceed that total if he learns to lift the ball more often, but more likely to settle in as a high-average hitter with a good on-base percentage.
While Emerson could hit his way into the majors this season, he's widely expected to replace J.P. Crawford as the regular shortstop in 2027, as Crawford will be a free agent after this season.
The Mariners also add Emerson to their core of position players locked up to long-term deals: Julio Rodriguez is signed through 2023, Cal Raleigh through 2030 (with a vesting option for 2031), and Josh Naylor through 2030.
ESPN's David Schoenfield contributed to this report.
