When Athletics signed Jacob Wilson to a seven-year, $70 million contract, the story wasn’t just about the numbers. It wasn’t just a contract. It was a strategic statement—made in the right place, at the right time, and with a very clear intention.
Wilson signed in the very city that would become the team’s future home. Less than a month earlier, Tyler Soderstrom had done the same. Two signatures, one desk, one message: Athletics is locking down its core roster before Las Vegas officially opens.
For years, Athletics has been associated with sell-offs, cost-saving measures, and avoiding long-term commitments. But this recent series of moves suggests a different direction. Jacob Wilson became the fourth Athletics player to sign a contract until at least 2028, alongside Soderstrom, Brent Rooker, and Lawrence Butler. What’s noteworthy isn’t the total amount—it’s the age. 23, 24, 25. These are players at the crossroads between potential and reality.
With Wilson, the All-Stars didn’t wait for him to “prove himself further.” They proactively bought certainty. A 23-year-old All-Star shortstop, who shot .311 with 13 home runs, 63 RBIs, was voted All-Star by fans, and was second only to Nick Kurtz in the Rookie of the Year race. More importantly, he represents a model the All-Stars want to emulate: drafted, quickly making it to the MLB, playing a central role, and staying.
Signing Wilson now helps the All-Stars avoid expensive arbitration years, extends control until 2032 (with an option for 2033), and transforms a volatile asset into a stable foundation. But behind the financial calculations lies a bigger story: attracting confidence—from current players, future players, and the market.
David Forst has been blunt: being based in West Sacramento may have cost the A’s the chance to sign Nolan Arenado. But each long-term signing like Wilson or Soderstrom is a brick laid in the foundation of their Las Vegas home. As 2028 approaches, the A’s need to prove they’re not just “waiting to move”—they’re building a team to win when they arrive.
Inside the clubhouse, that message spread quickly. Jeff McNeil was brought in as an experienced leader. Rooker and Langeliers took on leadership roles. And Wilson, though young, understood the value of staying with a team that was growing together. He didn’t talk about money. He talked about teammates, about the daily work culture, about the feeling that this was “a very special group.”
The details of Wilson signing his contract shortly after getting married, visiting the stadium construction site, signing his name on the future home plate—all were symbolic. This is a player betting on the team’s future, not just his own.
A’s knows they can’t spend money like the big markets. So they choose a different approach: locking in value early, creating long-term stability, and letting performance grow over time. Further signings like Nick Kurtz or Shea Langeliers may come – and then the picture will become clearer.
Jacob Wilson didn’t just sign a contract. He signed a plan. And that plan tells all of MLB that A’s is changing – not loudly, not flashy, but serious enough to make everyone take notice.
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