Athletics Offer Superstar Rookie Nick Kurtz Long-Term Contract Extension

The A's have made a contract extension offer to their 2025 AL Rookie of the Year, according to MLB insider Joel Sherman.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Oakland Athletics have reportedly offered a long-term contract extension to star rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz, according to MLB insider Joel Sherman. Kurtz, who was the 4th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, had a breakout 2025 season, batting .290 with 36 home runs, 26 doubles, 122 hits, and 86 RBIs, earning him the AL Rookie of the Year award and a 12th place finish in MVP voting. The A's have made extending their young core players a priority in recent years, and Kurtz is clearly seen as a key part of their future.

Why it matters

Locking up Kurtz long-term would be a major win for the Athletics, who have struggled to retain top talent in recent years. As one of the best young players in baseball, keeping Kurtz in Oakland would give the A's a true franchise cornerstone to build around for the foreseeable future.

The details

According to Sherman's report, the Athletics have made a contract extension offer to Kurtz this offseason, though the details of the offer and the likelihood of a deal being reached are unclear. The A's have prioritized extending their own young stars in recent years, signing players like Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler, Tyler Soderstrom, and Jacob Wilson to long-term deals.

  • Kurtz was drafted 4th overall by the Athletics in the 2024 MLB Draft.
  • Kurtz had a breakout rookie season in 2025, winning the AL Rookie of the Year award.
  • The Athletics have reportedly made a contract extension offer to Kurtz this offseason.

The players

Nick Kurtz

A 22-year-old first baseman who was the 4th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He had a remarkable rookie season in 2025, batting .290 with 36 home runs, 26 doubles, 122 hits, and 86 RBIs, earning him the AL Rookie of the Year award and a 12th place finish in MVP voting.

Joel Sherman

An MLB insider and reporter for The New York Post who broke the news of the Athletics' contract extension offer to Nick Kurtz.

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What they’re saying

“The A's have made a long-term extension offer to AL ROY Nick Kurtz, according to 2 sources. I received no word on the likelihood of getting it to the finish line.”

— Joel Sherman, MLB Insider (The New York Post)

What’s next

The Athletics and Kurtz will now work to try and finalize a long-term contract extension, though it remains unclear if a deal will ultimately be reached.

The takeaway

The Athletics' reported contract extension offer to star rookie Nick Kurtz is a clear sign that the team views him as a key part of their future plans. Locking up Kurtz long-term would be a major win for an A's franchise that has struggled to retain top talent in recent years, giving them a true franchise cornerstone to build around.