Mariners' Colt Emerson Extension Should Spur These 3 Teams to Act

Young MLB prospects could be next in line for lucrative early contract extensions.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:19pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game or match, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors like blue, red, and yellow, conceptually representing the rapid changes and competition in securing top young talent.As MLB teams race to lock up their top prospects with lucrative early extensions, the sport's future stars are being deconstructed into a geometric cubist masterpiece.Today in Tampa

The Seattle Mariners recently signed top prospect Colt Emerson to an 8-year, $95 million contract extension, setting a new record for a player yet to make his MLB debut. This deal could spur other teams to lock up their top young talents before their prices rise even further, with the Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin, the Oakland Athletics' Leo De Vries, and the Milwaukee Brewers' Jesús Made identified as potential next candidates for similar extensions.

Why it matters

Early contract extensions for top MLB prospects have become a growing trend, allowing teams to secure their future stars at a lower cost before they reach free agency. The Emerson deal sets a new benchmark, and other teams will likely look to follow suit with their own elite young talents to avoid losing them down the line.

The details

The Mariners' extension with Colt Emerson includes a club option for a 9th season and escalators that could bring the total value over $130 million. This deal surpasses the previous record for a pre-debut player. Other teams that could look to lock up their top prospects include the Pirates with Konnor Griffin, the A's with Leo De Vries, and the Brewers with Jesús Made. These players are all considered among the best young talents in the sport and could command massive contracts if they reach free agency.

  • On Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners handed an 8-year, $95 million extension to infield prospect Colt Emerson.
  • Less than 24 hours before the Emerson deal, the Brewers signed Cooper Pratt to an 8-year, $50.75 million extension.

The players

Colt Emerson

A top infield prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization who just signed an 8-year, $95 million contract extension, setting a new record for a player yet to make his MLB debut.

Konnor Griffin

The consensus #1 prospect in baseball, currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. If he were to sign an extension, it could surpass Emerson's record.

Leo De Vries

A 19-year-old shortstop prospect in the Oakland Athletics organization, who could be the next young star the A's look to lock up long-term.

Jesús Made

An elite shortstop prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers system, who could command a massive extension deal if the team looks to secure his future.

Paul Skenes

A top pitching prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization who may be difficult for the team to retain past his free agency.

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What they’re saying

“Emerson's extension set a record for a player yet to debut, but that if Griffin got such a deal, the record would almost instantly be broken.”

— Jon Heyman, New York Post reporter

What’s next

The Pirates front office and ownership group will need to work overtime to try and lock up Konnor Griffin to a long-term extension before the odds of keeping him decrease further.

The takeaway

The Mariners' record-setting extension for Colt Emerson is likely to spur other teams to follow suit and secure their top young prospects to lucrative early deals, as the market for elite MLB talent continues to rise rapidly.