On Tuesday morning, the Seattle Mariners shocked the baseball world by signing top prospect Colt Emerson to a massive eight-year, $95 million contract. There is also an option for a ninth year and that total value of the deal could reach $130 million through various incentives.

It's the biggest contract ever for a player who has never appeared in the big leagues. After the deal was finalized, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto spoke to the media at T-Mobile Park. 

The deal buys out at least three arbitration years and two free agent years. If Emerson becomes the player that the Mariners believe he can be, then the deal could end up a steal. Of course, it comes with risk as well, as the Mariners learned with the Evan White contract just a few years ago.

As noted by Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, the contract breaks down like this:

Colt Emerson contract breakdown, per sources...

Signing bonus: $8M

2026: $1M

2027: $2M

2028: $9M

2029-2033: Ranges from $12-18M per year

Key takeaway: $20M total between his service time window of 0-3 years and $15M AAV for the final five years of the deal.

So, clearly, Emerson is getting more than the league minimum for his first three years. The league minimum under the current collective bargaining agreement is just under $800,000 per year. From a payroll perspective, the $2 million in 2027 and $9 million in 2027 don't really affect the Mariners. While Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor will continue to make more money on their long-term deals, the Mariners will see Randy Arozarena's and J.P. Crawford's deals come off the books after 2026, helping re-balance the accounting.

Luis Castillo's current money will fall off the books after 2027, as will Logan Gilbert's.

Over the final five years of the deal, Emerson gets the $15 million per year, which could result in savings over projected arbitration salaries and free agency. Again, Rodriguez, Raleigh and Naylor are the only Mariners currently under long-term contract that will be being paid big money at the same time as Emerson. 

Assuming they haven't been extended by that point, Bryan Woo and Bryce Miller will be in the final arbitration year of their deals in 2029. They should also be paid handsomely.

We'll have much more conversation about Emerson's deal on Wednesday night's edition of the 'Refuse to Lose' podcast, which will air following the Mariners and Yankees season finale. 

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