A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a $135 million, nine-year contract covering 2026-34.

The San Diego Padres may have stumbled upon their next homegrown star after asking top prospect Jackson Merrill to make a position change two springs ago. His impressive 2024 breakout campaign resulted in him receiving a 9-year, $135 million contract extension from the franchise.

A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a $135 million, nine-year contract covering 2026-34

With the nine-year deal, the young center fielder gets attainable and guaranteed cash, and San Diego secures a young star to build around.

The Padres locked up their 21-year-old outfielder on Wednesday to a nine-year extension that signals they’re here to stay as a National League contender.

Jackson Merrill could be sticking around in San Diego for another decade. The Padres and Merrill have agreed to a nine-year, $135 million extension worth a maximum of $204 million, per FanSided's Robert Murray. The deal includes a $30 million club option for a tenth season that can convert to a player option, Murray noted.

The San Diego Padres have locked up one of their young pieces as they have signed center fielder Jackson Merrill to a nine-year, $135 million contract, league sources confirmed.

The San Diego Padres and All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill agreed to a nine-year, $135 million contract extension, a source familiar with the agreement told UPI on Wednesday.

Jackson Merrill, their 21-year-old center fielder who just began his second big-league season, has agreed to a nine-year contract extension that begins in 2026 and guarantees him $135 million. The Padres plan to announce the deal, which runs through at least 2034, Wednesday morning.