Opening Week of the 2025 MLB season has also become an "internal-extension" season for many teams, and this year has been no exception. Spotrac breaks down some of the greatest hits from recently announced MLB extensions across the league.

Boston Locks in SP Garrett Crochet

26-year old Crochet was acquired from Chicago (AL) this past December in exchange for 4 prospects. Boston avoided arbitration with a $3.8M salary for the upcoming season, then extended him out another 6 years, $170M guaranteed this week. The extension starts in 2026 and includes a $4M signing bonus, a chance to opt-out after 2030, and a club option in 2032 that only becomes available if he spends 120+ days on the IL due to a left arm injury.

Crochet would have arbitration eligible for a final time in 2026, so this new contract buys out his final year of team control, and guarantees at least 4 years of his free agency. The deal also includes $2M of available escalators based on Cy Young finishes, and a $2M bonus for a trade assignment.

Garrett Crochet's Full Contract Breakdown

Boston Extends 2B Kristian Campbell

The Red Sox made another splash this week, locking in 22-year-old 2B Kristian Campbell to an 8 year, $60M extension - despite just 59 MLB plate appearances. A 4th round pick back in 2023, Campbell quickly rose through the ranks and was a standout player this past spring for Boston.

The new deal replaces his $760,000 minimum salary with a $3M payout in 2025, $8M over the next 3 seasons (his Pre-Arbitration window), $13M across 2028-2030 (his Arbitration window), and $56M total through the 2032 season. From there, Boston will hold a $19M club option or $4M buyout, with another $21M option to follow thereafter.

It's a huge payday for a second baseman with almost no professional experience, easily surpassing Brandon Lowe's 6 year, $24M deal in Tampa Bay back in 2019.

Full Breakdown of Kristian Campbell's Contract

Padres Extend OF Jackson Merrill

2024 breakout star Jackson Merrill became the latest member of the Padres to cash in big, locking down a 9 year, $135M contract extension that runs through the 2035 season when including an option year. The deal can max out at $204M including escalators, while the $15M AAV is the largest for any MLB contract signed with just 1 Year of Service.

Merrill will play out 2025 on his previously signed $809,500 pre-arbitration salary, though the new deal does reportedly include a $10M signing bonus. According to early reports, Merrill will secure a $10M signing bonus ($11M total in 2026), $24M combined across his 3 arbitration-eligible seasons, then $20M in each of 2030-2034, his first 5 years of free agency. However, these final 5 salaries will escalate $1M each time Merrill reaches 500 plate appearances in a season.

Full Breakdown of Jackson Merrill's Contract

Diamondbacks Extend SP Brandon Pfaadt

After handing out $80M guaranteed to Eduardo Rodriguez last winter, and another $210M guaranteed to Corbin Burnes this past winter, Arizona continues financially backing their rotation, giving 26-year-old Pfaadt a 5 year, $45M contract through the 2030 season. The deal begins in 2026 and includes a $2M signing bonus, a $21M club option in 2031, and a mutual option if necessary in 2032.

Pfaadt's deal buys out a final pre-arbitration season (2026) all 3 arbitration-eligible seasons (2027-29) at $24M combined, and at least 1 year of free agency at $15M.

Fellow starting pitchers Zac Gallen & Merrill Kelly are pending free agents this coming winter.

Full Breakdown of Brandon Pfaadt's Contract

Mariners Extend C Cal Raleigh

After avoiding arbitration ($5.6M) for the first time this past January, Raleigh and the Mariners instead agreed on a new 6 year, $105M contract that begins immediately, running through the 2030 season. The 28-year-old will now make $11M in 2025, $34M through his 3-year arbitration window, with another $71M to be earned across three years of bought-out free agency.

At $17.5M per year, Raleigh immediately becomes the 3rd highest average paid catcher in baseball.

Full Breakdown of Cal Raleigh's Contract

Guardians Extend SP Tanner Bibee

Cleveland is always good for at least one below-market-value extension an offseason, and they held court in extending Bibee to a 5 year, $48M contract this March. The new deal begins immediately (replacing a pre-arbitration salary), and includes $5M in 2025, $21M combined across his 3-year arbitration window, and $21M in what would have been his first year of free agency in 2029. There's a $21M club option set for 2030, and escalators for the final 2 years of the deal based on Cy Young finishes.

Full Breakdown of Tanner Bibee's Contract

Diamondbacks Extend RP Justin Martinez

Arizona remained one of the most active teams in all of baseball this winter, locking in 23-year-old reliever Justin Martinez to a 5 year, $18M contract that begins in 2025, runs through 2029, and holds 2 additional club options through 2031. The deal buys out 5 years of team control, paying him $5.5M over his next two (pre-arbitration) seasons, and $12.5M combined across what would have been his 3 arbitration-eligible campaigns. Club Options of $7M and $9M respectively would represent his first years of free agency, giving Arizona control prior to his age-28 season.

Full Breakdown of Justin Martinez' Contract

Blue Jays Extend C Alejandro Kirk

Despite so much attention on Vlad Jr.'s contract status in Toronto, it's Kirk who locks in the late offseason extension with the Blue Jays. The 26-year-old gets a 5 year, $58M contract that begins in 2026, running through the 2031 season. He'll remain on his $4.5M arbitration-avoided salary for 2025, while reeling in a $6M signing bonus as part of the new contract. The $11.6M AAV makes Kirk the 6th highest average paid catcher in baseball next season at the time of this piece.

Full Breakdown of Alejandro Kirk's Contract

Royals Extend SP Cole Ragans

On the heels of a 32-start, 223 strikeout, 5 WAR campaign in 2024, Cole Ragans secured a 3 year, $13.25M contract extension in Kansas City that buys out his final year of pre-arbitration and the first two seasons of arbitration-eligibility. The 27-year-old will earn $1.25M in 2025, then at least $12M across 2026-2027, but he'll revert back to arbitration in 2028 for a final time before free agency.

Full Breakdown of Cole Ragan's Contract

Athletics Extend OF Lawrence Butler

The A's continued their new-found spending habit, locking in 24-year-old Butler to a 7 year, $65M contract that begins immediately and runs through the 2031 season. The deal buys out 5 years of team control, paying him $8.5M over his final two pre-arbitration seasons, and a combined $23M across what would have been his arbitration eligibility. Butler will then earn $30M in 2030/2031 combined, and there's a $20M club option in place for 2032 that can be escalated as much as $6M over the course of the contract.

Full Breakdown of Lawrence Butler's Contract

Diamondbacks Extend SS Geraldo Perdomo

Arizona locked in their starting shortstop to a 4 year, $45M contract extension just as camp broke this February, buying out the final two years of arbitration eligibility ($13M combined) and at least 2 years of free agency ($24M combined). There's a $15M club option in 2030, and escalators available for the final three years of the deal based on MVP vote finishes.
The 25-year-old carries a $10.3M market valuation in our system, but secures at least $11.25M per year guaranteed per this extension.

Full Breakdown of Geraldo Perdomo's Extension