The Athletics made another strong move to lock up their young core as the franchise prepares for a move to Las Vegas.
The Athletics are locking up some of their young stars this offseason. Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom was certainly a breakout star of 2025. The 24-year-old opened at starting first baseman for the season and had three games where he hit two homers within the first 17, making him the fifth player in baseball history to hit that mark. The franchise is reportedly awarding him with a record-breaking contract.
According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Athletics and Soderstrom agreed to a seven-year, $86 million contract. That’s the largest contract that the franchise has ever awarded. It includes an eight-year club option with escalators that bring the contract up to $131 million in max value. After Soderstrom debuted as a catcher and first baseman for the organization in 2023, he struggled in the jump to the Majors, hitting only .160 with a .472 OPS in 45 games.
He was optioned to Triple-A in 2024 but returned to the big leagues as a much better hitter, slashing .233/.315/.429 with nine home runs, 26 RBI, and a .743 OPS. He moved from primarily first base to left field in 2025, and the positional switch coincided with a breakout season for Soderstrom. He had a .276/.346/.474 slash line with 25 home runs, 93 RBI, and a .820 OPS in 158 games played. The powerful lefty started 145 of those games, 100 of them in left field. He showed above-average defense in his new full-time position and is a key member of the team’s young core.
The contract extension is yet another foundational piece locked up for the team as the franchise prepares to relocate to Las Vegas. The Athletics currently play in a minor league stadium in Sacramento, as they’ve done for two seasons, with the move to Las Vegas expected to come in 2028.
Soderstrom joins designated hitter Brent Rooker and right fielder Lawrence Butler as another long-term signing, with those two locked up through at least 2030. The A’s now will have Soderstrom, at minimum, through his 20s. He was on track to be eligible for arbitration after 2026, and free agency in 2029.
Soderstrom is the son of former San Francisco Giants righty Steve Soderstrom. He was the A’s first-round pick in 2020 and quickly rose through the minor leagues to debut in the Majors at 21 years old. The switch to left field proved to be a smart one, as it utilized his tools of athleticism and instincts.