*Photo from Beyond the Box Score*
The Tampa Bay Rays are a team known for their low payroll, but smart moves to remain competitive year in and year out. Even this team opens their wallet when they want to. The Rays and SS Wander Franco have agreed to a massive 11 year, $182 million extension, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The Rays have confirmed the contract.
Franco's contract includes a team option for the 2034 season that is worth $25 million. If that option is exercised, it maxes out the deal at 12 years and $223 million. There are also annual $3 million incentives for finishing in the top 5 of AL MVP voting that takes effect starting in the 2028 season. The extension covers all of Franco's pre arbitration and arbitration years, plus 5 free agency seasons.
Rays owner Stuart Sternburg said of the extension that "This is a great day for Wander and for the Rays, and is evidence of the mutual trust between Wander and our organization. So many of our areas had a hand in this, our scouting, development, health and wellness and coaching personnel plus many others. We are committed to fielding competitive teams year in and year out, and we all expect that Wander’s presence and contributions will play a large part in maintaining our standard of excellence."
In his rookie season in 2021, Franco played just 70 regular season games after a late call up and a stint on the IL, but it was still enough for the Rays to invest this much money on him. Franco hit to a .288 average with an .810 OPS, hitting 7 homers and driving in 39 runs, adding two stolen bases. He went 7-19 with two home runs and 4 RBI in 4 playoff games this past season.
Before being called up to the majors, Franco had been the consensus number one overall prospect in all of baseball for two years. Despite only playing 70 games, he was a finalist for AL Rookie of the Year, finishing in 3rd place in the voting, with teammate Randy Arozarena taking home the award. The Rays had a special feeling about Franco since they first saw him play in the Dominican Republic, and he's making good on that feeling so far.
Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said of Franco that "The pace at which Wander has developed speaks to his potential. We have seen him do special things on the field, particularly for a player that is only 20 years old. He’s an exceptionally driven, budding superstar who can contribute to our success for a long time."
By signing his extension, Franco becomes just the first player to sign an extension of this magnitude after less than a year of service time in the major leagues. He breaks the previous record held by Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr, who signed an 8 year, $100 million extension with the Braves in 2019. Franco's deal is also the richest in Rays history, far surpassing the 6 year, $100 million extension that Evan Longoria signed in 2012, which was the biggest in Rays history until now.
Another highlight of Franco's rookie season was an almost record on base streak he put together, reaching base in 43 straight games in 2021, tying hall of famer Frank Robinson's record for an on base streak of players 20 years old or younger.
An extension for Franco did not need to be a priority for the Rays this offseason, as he wouldn't have even been arbitration eligible until the 2024 season ends, but he's a generational player that the Rays don't want going anywhere else. He solidifies his spot in the middle infield in Tampa Bay, or Montreal, or wherever the Rays are located for the duration of his contract.
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