Soderstrom agrees to A's-record 7-year, $86 million deal (source)

Tyler Soderstrom received a gift on Christmas -- but it was one that he earned. Following a breakout season in 2025, Soderstrom agreed to a seven-year, $86 million extension with the A's, a source told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

The deal, which has not been confirmed by the club, constitutes the largest guarantee in franchise history, and it contains a club option for an eighth year and escalators that can bring the total value of the contract to $131 million.

Soderstrom, 24, slashed .276/.346/.474 with 25 homers and 93 RBIs in 158 games in 2025. He posted a 126 OPS+ and accumulated 3.4 fWAR.

The A’s originally selected Soderstrom out of high school -- and as a catcher -- with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. After making his MLB debut in 2023, the left-handed slugger hit just .204 with a .636 OPS across his first two seasons in the Majors, playing in 106 games.

Soderstrom’s fortunes changed in 2025, when he cemented himself as a potential franchise cornerstone. At the plate, Soderstrom makes loud contact. He ranked in the 86th percentile in hard-hit rate (49.8%) and 70th percentile in barrel rate (11.4%), per Statcast.

Soderstrom also developed into an above-average fielder. Though he began the season as the A’s starting first baseman, the arrival of Nick Kurtz in late April moved Soderstrom to left field -- a position he had not played at any level of professional baseball.

The transition was seamless. Soderstrom started 100 games in left field and ended the season as a Gold Glove Award finalist for the top defensive left fielder in the American League. He tallied 11 outfield assists and accumulated +5 Outs Above Average, compared to the -5 OAA he posted at first base.

Soderstrom becomes the third member of the A’s emerging core to sign a long-term contract extension with the team in the past calendar year, joining designated hitter Brent Rooker and outfielder Lawrence Butler. It’s a strategy that A’s general manager David Forst discussed earlier in the offseason.

“I’ve had a lot of conversations with ownership about wanting to continue that model and locking guys up into our time in Las Vegas,” Forst said in October. “It’s a two-way street, but I imagine we’ll be initiating some of those conversations in the next months.”

Soderstrom, Butler (24 years old), shortstop Jacob Wilson (23), and first baseman Nick Kurtz (22) form a talented young nucleus of hitters. The team also acquired two-time All-Star Jeff McNeil in a trade with the Mets earlier this week, further lengthening the lineup.