Athletics Offer $100M Extension to Rookie Star Nick Kurtz

The A's look to lock up their breakout first baseman long-term as they prepare for a move to Las Vegas.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Oakland Athletics have offered a lucrative $100 million contract extension to Nick Kurtz, their 2025 American League Rookie of the Year. Kurtz burst onto the scene last season, hitting 36 home runs and posting a 1.002 OPS over 117 games. The A's have a history of securing promising young talent with early pre-arbitration deals, and Kurtz's rapid rise from college to the majors has made him a centerpiece of their future plans, especially as the team prepares to relocate to Las Vegas.

Why it matters

Locking up Kurtz long-term is a crucial move for the Athletics as they look to build a competitive roster for their upcoming relocation to Las Vegas. Kurtz's breakout rookie campaign established him as one of the game's rising young stars, and securing him on a team-friendly deal could pay dividends as the A's aim to contend in the American League.

The details

The A's have offered Kurtz a seven-year, $100 million contract extension, which would keep the 23-year-old first baseman under team control through his prime years. While the A's have completed similar pre-arbitration deals with other top prospects like Tyler Soderstrom, Jacob Wilson, and Lawrence Butler in recent years, Kurtz's dominant rookie season suggests he could command the highest salary of the group.

  • Kurtz made his MLB debut in late April 2025.
  • Kurtz went on to hit 36 home runs and post a 1.002 OPS over 117 games in his rookie season.
  • The A's have offered Kurtz a seven-year, $100 million contract extension in February 2026.

The players

Nick Kurtz

A 23-year-old first baseman who was named the 2025 American League Rookie of the Year after a breakout season with the Oakland Athletics.

Joel Sherman

A New York Post insider who reported on the Athletics' contract extension offer to Kurtz.

Tyler Soderstrom

A top prospect in the Athletics' system who has previously signed a pre-arbitration extension with the team.

Jacob Wilson

Another Athletics prospect who has agreed to a pre-arbitration extension with the team.

Lawrence Butler

An Athletics prospect who has also signed a pre-arbitration extension with the team.

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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. The A's over the last year have done pre-arbitration extensions already with [Lawrence] Butler, Soderstrom, Wilson.”

— Joel Sherman, New York Post Insider (Twitter)

What’s next

The Athletics and Kurtz will continue negotiations on the contract extension, with the team hoping to lock up their young star before he reaches arbitration.

The takeaway

The Athletics' efforts to extend Kurtz long-term highlight their commitment to building a competitive roster ahead of their relocation to Las Vegas. Securing the reigning Rookie of the Year on a team-friendly deal could prove crucial as the A's look to contend in the American League in the coming years.