Jacob Wilson became the fourth player to sign a long-term contract with the Athletics as they prepare for the Las Vegas era. On the surface, it’s a “beautiful” deal: 7 years, $70 million, with an option for the eighth year. An early commitment for the 23-year-old star. But when you peel back the layers of the compensation structure, the story becomes much more interesting.
According to Jon Heyman, Wilson’s contract has a very strong back-load. The first three years cost only $8 million in total. It’s only from 2029–2032 that the figure escalates rapidly, before ending with a 2033 team option worth $26 million (plus a $2 million buyout).
And then there’s a detail that has raised eyebrows: the MVP incentive. If Wilson finishes in the top 5 MVPs in 2031–2032, the 2033 option will increase by $2 million each time; finishing in the top 6–10 will also add $1 million. A strange clause, because it concentrates the money in… a year in which the team already has the right to refuse.
In other words: if Wilson truly plays well enough to be a MVP contender, A’s either have to pay a hefty price for the five-year option, or simply… not use the option and let him go. This is a clause that both rewards performance and puts pressure on themselves.
Comparing this to the market makes the situation even more precarious. Luis Arraez – a fairly similar polishing profile – only received a one-year, $12 million contract in his first free agency trial. The prospect of Wilson potentially reaching nearly $30 million/year by 2033, even if the CBA were to change the salary scale, is still a huge leap.
But A’s didn’t sign Wilson for the present. They signed him for future cash flow.
Looking at the payroll when the team arrives in Las Vegas (2028), the picture is quite clear: A’s deliberately kept their books extremely clean. As of 2028, they only have four long-term contracts—Rooker, Soderstrom, Wilson, and Butler—with a total commitment of approximately $39 million. This number increases year by year, but remains surprisingly low compared to the rest of MLB.
The key lies in the options and vesting clauses. Almost every contract gives the A’s the right to choose. If a player’s performance declines, they have a way out. If things go well, they then “press the button” to spend more.
But Jacob Wilson is only part of the story.
Nick Kurtz will enter arbitration in 2028. If he continues to play at his current rate, he could quickly reach $20 million per year before his control expires in 2030. That year alone, if Kurtz isn’t renewed, the A’s could spend over $85 million on five players—a sum that was once their entire payroll for several seasons in Oakland.
This is the true test of the Las Vegas era.
Wilson’s contract structure shows the front office is doing its job: locking in young talent, maintaining flexibility, and shifting costs to later. But the question isn’t Excel. It’s the owner.
Upon arriving in Las Vegas, will A’s be ready to operate like a major team—or will they maintain a “sufficient” mindset? Jacob Wilson is the first brick in this new house. And how they handle the final years of his contract will show whether A’s are building a team, or just a beautiful blueprint on paper.
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