The San Diego Padres are riding high to begin the 2025 season, with a strong 7-2 start generating plenty of excitement. Another major reason for the buzz is Jackson Merrill’s recent nine-year, $135 million contract extension, signed just last week.
At only 21 years old, Merrill’s talent is rare in the game, and after an All-Star-caliber rookie season, he’s set to stay in San Diego for much of the next decade.
Given his skill level, many questioned why Merrill’s contract was so team-friendly. While the deal is life-changing, some speculated that Merrill could have earned nearly double what he agreed to. His maturity and connection to the team, however, played a major role in shaping the final figure, as he expressed a deep sense of loyalty to both the city and the Padres franchise.
In a media session shortly after signing the deal, Merrill made a comment that seemed to subtly reference another young star who had a short tenure with the Padres.
“I know there are contracts out there that are beyond absurd, with ridiculous amounts of money,” Merrill said. “But having a real relationship with a team and real people, like I do here, you can’t beat that. You can’t just sign for $700 million and expect everything to be perfect. I’ve got people around me supporting me and my family, asking about my personal life every day. I’m just thankful for that. I know it’ll be the same for the next nine years.”
This remark seemed to hint at former Padres outfielder Juan Soto, who signed a massive 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets during the offseason. Soto, traded to the Padres during the 2022 season, helped them reach the NLCS that year, but struggled in 2023, as the Padres finished with an 82-80 record and missed the postseason.
While it may not be Merrill’s style to directly criticize a fellow superstar, the context of Soto’s brief and turbulent time in San Diego, combined with the nature of his contract with the Mets, makes it possible that Merrill’s comment was a subtle jab.
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