Mariners Lock Up Emerson with Massive Contract

0:00It's March 31st. This is Seattle Mariners News today, powered by AI, your team, your update. Seattle Mariners just locked up shortstop Colt Emerson with an 8-year, $95 million contract. That's the biggest deal ever for a player still under team control who hasn't sniffed the majors yet. Kid doesn't even turn 21 until July. Emerson got picked 22nd overall in the 2023 draft. He balled out as a teen in the minors last year, hitting a 0.867 OPS in low A, R and 0.648 in high A. That shot him up those top prospect lists, somewhere between 25 and 30. Fans and scouts are buzzing because this fits a hot trend. Just look at the Cubs handing Pee Crow Armstrong, a 6-year, $115 million extension, and Niko Harner, 6 years for $100, $41 million. Fans are buying low on future stars before they hit free agency. Now Emerson's slashing 0.285, 0.383, 0.458, mostly in high A last season, with taste of

1:06double A and, triple A. He started this year in triple A to coma, but expect him in Seattle soon, probably bumping Leo Rivas aside at short. Meanwhile, Niohwaki's eyeing something similar for their triple A shortstop Cooper Pratt, an 8-year pact worth 50 million plus. Mariners front office is playing chess, securing their infield for the long haul, while the prospect wave keeps rolling.