This is a "holy cow" moment. There’s no other way to go about it. Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres will be playing in Southern California for the foreseeable future.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the 22-year-old Tatis has agreed to a $340 million contract spanning a whopping 14 years. These are not typos. Fourteen years and $340 million in cold hard cash.
It’s the longest contract in the history of Major League Baseball, besting the 13-year deals both Giancarlo Stanton and Bryce Harper are currently playing under.
The $340 million in total value is also the third-highest figure in baseball history, behind Mike Trout and Mookie Betts. With that said, the $24.3 million annually is only the 23rd-highest figure.
Tatis has more than earned this contract. It’s a wild thing to say after just 143 career games, but the All-Star has lit it up in the bigs. Fernando Tatis is hitting .301 with 39 homers, 87 RBI, 27 stolen bases and a .937 OPS during that span. Some might conclude that these are awe-inspiring numbers.
As for Padres owner Peter Seidler, he now has a ton of money tied up to a few players moving forward as San Diego looks to compete for a World Series.
That’s nearly $1 billion in cold hard cash tied up to five players. Talk about going all-in. What’s even more shocking is the fact that Tatis’ contract includes a full no-trade clause. For. Fourteen. Years.
He also gets a $10 million signing bonus. The extension starts during the upcoming 2021 season. Those around the baseball world agree that this is some eye-popping stuff.
Fernando Tatis Jr. right now @Starting9
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 18, 2021
pic.twitter.com/0gHE3QlrCq
NFL players looking for their agent’s # after seeing Tatis Jr got a fully guaranteed $340,000,000 pic.twitter.com/gxJMLqeZ1H
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 18, 2021
For luxury tax purposes, the Tatis Jr. deal will take the #Padres to just under $200M. With the Chargers gone, the Padres are the only team from the big 4 sports leagues in San Diego and are now acting like a big-market team.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 18, 2021
Hi hello, let's watch Fernando Tatis Jr. hit some home runs!!!!
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) February 18, 2021
!!! pic.twitter.com/ntGWNMuEhe
Tatis when the Padres asked how many years he wanted on his new contract pic.twitter.com/Wl7edMMr3o
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) February 18, 2021
Fernando Tatis Jr.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) February 18, 2021
$340M
Fully Guaranteed
Full No Trade Clause
$0 deferred
Will be a free agent at age 35
The #Padres are not messing around.
The craziest thing about Fernando Tatis Jr. signing a 14-year contract? He'll still be just 35 years old when it's completed.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) February 18, 2021
Don’t tell me the Rockies or Indians or Pirates can’t spend money on their guys and compete when we’ve got the Padres trading for everyone while paying Tatis Jr. and Machado $300 million each https://t.co/3wjOz2KgAV
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) February 18, 2021
Largest contracts in sports:
— SB Nation (@SBNation) February 18, 2021
1. Messi – 637M
2. Mahomes – 503M
3. Trout – 426M
4. Canelo – 365M
5. Betts – 365M
6. Tatis Jr – 340M pic.twitter.com/n1Wq5gKtT1
Fernando Tatis Jr has played 143 games in MLB. He just got a $340,000,000 extension … if that doesn’t get kids into baseball idk what will
— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) February 18, 2021
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