The beginning of the season is often a time for signing young, pre-free agency-eligible players to long-term deals. Teams have increasingly become more aggressive signing players just as their careers are beginning, and in some cases, before they have even made their big league debuts.
This week, the Brewers signed infield prospect Cooper Pratt to an eight-year, $50.75 million deal, before he has even reached Triple-A. Pratt is ranked as the #62 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, but hit just .238/.343/.348 with eight home runs and 31 steals in Double-A last year. Meanwhile, the Mariners signed shortstop prospect Colt Emerson to an eight-year, $95 million deal. He has a better pedigree as the #7 prospect in baseball, and hit .285/.383/.458 with 16 home runs across three levels in the minors.
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The teams are taking some risk, as neither player has made their MLB debut or reached their 22nd birthday. But if they become superstars, the team could save a lot of money, plus keep the player beyond when they would have been eligible for free agency.
Should the Royals do the same with their young hitters, Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone? Jensen is ranked as the #11 prospect in the game by Baseball America and had an impressive debut last September, hitting .300/.391/.550 with three home runs in 20 games. The 22-year-old has a patient eye, solid power, and is a good defender behind the plate. The floor is lower with Caglianone, but the ceiling is much higher. The former first-round pick struggled in the big leagues, but hit 20 home runs in just 66 minor league games last year, hitting .337/.408/.617. Even though he hit just .157 with seven home runs in 62 MLB games, there were some impressive underlying metrics that suggest that if he could elevate more, he could have great success.
Of course, it all depends on how much it would cost. A good comp for Jensen may be the recent extension signed by Samuel Basallo. The Orioles catcher signed an eight-year, $67 million deal just a week into his big league career, after being anointed one of the top prospects in baseball.
Caglianone is a bit more difficult to comp, since he was amazing in the minors, but struggled in an extended look in the big leagues. In 2025, Lawrence Butler signed a seven-year, $65.5 million deal with a club option with the Athletics. He struggled in his initial stint in the big leagues, but came on to have a terrific 2024 season, justifying the deal. Caglianone’s ceiling may be higher, but the risk is also greater, since he hasn’t performed yet, which may make it difficult to come to an agreement.
What do you think? Should the Royals be signing their young hitters to long-term deals?
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