In a stunning Christmas Day announcement for 2025, the Oakland Athletics delivered a major gift to their fanbase by securing a long-term future with one of their brightest young stars. The franchise agreed to a monumental contract extension with emerging slugger Tyler Soderstrom, signaling a firm commitment to building a competitive team around its homegrown talent.
Breaking Down the Record-Setting Contract Details
As reported by ESPN, the Athletics and Tyler Soderstrom have finalized a massive seven-year agreement worth $86 million in guaranteed money. This landmark deal officially stands as the largest guaranteed contract in the storied history of the Oakland Athletics franchise. The structure of the contract is particularly noteworthy, featuring an eighth-year club option for the team and various performance escalators that could push the total value to an impressive $131 million.
This strategic move ensures that Soderstrom will remain in an Athletics uniform through at least the 2032 MLB season. The extension effectively buys out all of his arbitration-eligible years, providing financial certainty for the player and cost control for the organization. This stability is especially crucial as the Athletics prepare for their highly anticipated relocation to Las Vegas in 2028.
This contract shatters the team's previous record for a homegrown player, which was the six-year, $66 million extension signed by star third baseman Eric Chavez back in 2004. More recently, the biggest deal on the books was the three-year, $67 million contract given to pitcher Luis Severino in 2024.
Soderstrom's Meteoric Rise to Stardom
The lucrative extension is a direct reward for Tyler Soderstrom's spectacular breakout campaign during the 2025 season. At just 24 years of age, the young hitter established himself as a cornerstone of the Athletics' lineup. Over a full 158-game season, he posted an excellent slash line of .276/.346/.474, demonstrating both contact skills and power.
His offensive production was immense, culminating in 25 home runs, 93 runs batted in (RBI), and 75 runs scored. Defensively, Soderstrom proved to be remarkably versatile and skilled. While spending most of his time in left field, he also saw action at first base. His defensive prowess was so recognized that he was named a finalist for the Gold Glove Award in left field.
Soderstrom's journey was not without its early hurdles. Selected in the first round of the 2020 draft by Oakland, he made his big-league debut in 2023 but faced significant struggles. He showed marked improvement during limited playing time in 2024 before exploding onto the scene as a full-fledged star in 2025. His overall value was quantified by a 4.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), ranking him second on the entire Athletics roster, trailing only American League Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz.
Building a Young Core for the Las Vegas Era
The Soderstrom extension represents the third major long-term investment the Athletics have made in their young offensive core in a short span. This trend began in January 2025 when the team signed outfielder Brent Rooker to a five-year, $60 million deal. It continued in March with a seven-year, $65.5 million agreement with outfielder Lawrence Butler.
This core of promising talent extends beyond just those with new contracts. The roster also features key young players like catcher Shea Langeliers and the dynamic Nick Kurtz, whose unanimous Rookie of the Year selection in 2025 highlighted the group's immense potential. The Athletics have complemented this youth with strategic veteran additions, such as acquiring infielder Jeff McNeil via trade to bolster the lineup further.
Despite currently projecting to have the fifth-lowest payroll in Major League Baseball for the 2026 season, the Athletics' front office is demonstrating a clear shift in strategy by locking up its foundational pieces. The on-field results are beginning to show, with the team's win total climbing from a dismal 50 wins in 2023 to a more respectable 76 wins in 2025.
For loyal Athletics supporters, securing Tyler Soderstrom for the better part of the next decade provides a significant source of excitement and hope. As the franchise navigates its complex transition from Oakland to Las Vegas, having identifiable, homegrown cornerstone players like Soderstrom under contract ensures the team aims to be competitive from the very first pitch it throws in its new Nevada home.
