With roughly 10 % of the common season over, Yardbarker Main League Baseball writers are desperate to spend different folks’s cash.
Listed here are prime candidates for contract extensions for every AL workforce. (Statistics are by Sunday, April 13.)
AL East
BALTIMORE ORIOLES | All of their younger place gamers | This isn’t a joke: The Orioles ought to be fascinated by extending all of their core positional gamers, however particularly catcher Adley Rutschman and shortstop Gunnar Henderson. It’s puzzling why they haven’t approached both participant about an extension but, contemplating proprietor David Rubenstein is price billions of {dollars}.
BOSTON RED SOX | Outfielder Wilyer Abreu | The Crimson Sox already handed ace left-hander Garrett Crochet a $170M extension and second baseman/outfielder Kristian Campbell $60M over eight years, so what’s another extension? Abreu appears to be budding right into a star, and the time is now to increase him long run.
NEW YORK YANKEES | Catcher Austin Wells | Wells has cemented himself because the workforce’s catcher and produced on the plate to this point this season (.712 OPS and two residence runs). The 25-year-old hasn’t reached arbitration, so now could be the time to strike earlier than his price ticket (rightly) skyrockets.
TAMPA BAY RAYS | Third baseman Junior Caminero | The Rays tousled in handing former shortstop Wander Franco an 11-year, $182M extension. Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply they shouldn’t strive with Caminero, the subsequent younger infielder to take Tampa by storm and whose hitting skills are beloved by scouts.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS | Shortstop Bo Bichette | Just like the Crimson Sox, the Toronto Blue Jays are wanting inward after signing All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a 14-year, $500M extension. Due to this fact, it appears logical that fellow All-Star Bichette, 27, who is only one yr older than Guerrero Jr., could be an extension candidate. — Seth Carlson
AL West
ATHLETICS | Nearer Mason Miller | Miller has dominated since stepping in as nearer, posting a 2.31 ERA and a 0.871 WHiP with 113 strikeouts in 70 innings because the begin of the 2024 season. Though the A’s have but to method Miller about an extension, he’s open to talks and keen to signal a long-term deal.
HOUSTON ASTROS | Pitcher Hunter Brown | Brown lastly began dwelling as much as his potential over the ultimate 4 months of the 2024 season, posting a 2.31 ERA and a 1.119 WHiP over 120.2 innings, 126 strikeouts and 36 walks. Lengthy-term extensions for pitchers are dangerous, however Brown seems to be an rising star, making him effectively definitely worth the danger.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS | Reliever Ben Joyce | The flamethrowing Joyce is thought to be the nearer of the long run. He has been clear about his need to signal a long-term deal, making him an excellent goal because the Angels look to lock of their younger core.
SEATTLE MARINERS | Pitcher Logan Gilbert | The Mariners have signed outfielder Julio Rodriguez and catcher Cal Raleigh to long-term extensions. A primary-time All-Star in 2024, Gilbert has two years of arbitration left and is more likely to see his wage drastically improve, so an extension would give the Mariners value certainty whereas locking in a stable pitcher coming into his prime.
TEXAS RANGERS | Outfielder Wyatt Langford | A consensus top-10 prospect coming into the 2024 season, Langford didn’t disappoint throughout his rookie season. His well-rounded recreation and spectacular command of the strike zone make the 23-year-old the proper participant to lock in to an extension as quickly as potential. — David Hill
AL Central
CHICAGO WHITE SOX | Infielder Chase Meidroth | Meidroth, who has spectacular contact and on-base abilities, was an neglected a part of the Garrett Crochet trade. The White Sox should discover items for his or her future core, so extending Meidroth could be an ideal first step.
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS | Infielder Travis Bazzana | Bazzana hasn’t made his big-league debut, however he’s anticipated to be a key a part of the long run core. Gamers similar to Milwaukee outfielder Jackson Chourio have signed long-term deals earlier than showing within the majors; extending Bazzana now would make sense for a Cleveland ballclub that operates beneath fixed budgetary limits.
DETROIT TIGERS | Pitcher Tarik Skubal | Skubal had a breakout 2024 season, profitable the American League pitching Triple Crown with a 2.39 ERA and a 0.922 WHiP over his 192 innings, putting out 228 batters and profitable 18 video games. The Tigers are reportedly open to signing Skubal to an extension, making the reigning AL Cy Younger winner an ideal candidate.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS | Pitcher Seth Lugo | A 35-year-old pitcher with simply two full seasons as a starter could also be an odd extension candidate, however Lugo has begun to ascertain himself as a stable middle-of-the-rotation arm. He holds a $15M participant possibility for 2026, however the Royals might look to lock Lugo right into a short-term extension to solidify the rotation.
MINNESOTA TWINS | Pitcher Joe Ryan | Ryan has emerged as a stable middle-of-the-rotation arm for the Twins, posting a 3.60 ERA and a 0.985 WHiP over 135 innings in his breakout 2024 marketing campaign. He gives a stable 1-2 punch with Pablo Lopez atop the rotation and could possibly be a key contributor for the Twins. — David Hill
