How do the latest contract extensions around MLB impact Wyatt Langford?

This has been the week of contract extensions around Major League Baseball. It seems everyone from star rookies to established veterans are being rewarded with new contracts and those deals seem insanely team friendly.

Teams around the league are beginning to build the future of their roster and they taking a similar approach to what the Atlanta Braves did with their stars in Ozzie Albies, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Michael Harris year back.

Wyatt Langford, the Rangers biggest young star, has to be looking at his phone asking himself two things: 1) When is my turn? and 2) How much can I get? Perhaps the most recent extensions across the league can give him a baseline to target.

Here's an overview of the last two days of MLB contract extensions

04/01/2025: Boston locks up their ace of the future in Crochet

The Red Sox new left-handed fireballer Garrett Crochet signed a 6-year deal with Boston worth $170 million to keep him in Boston through 2031 season, with a designed opt-out after 2030. The 25-year-old was traded to Boston this offseason from the White Sox in exchange for four young prospects and Crochet was set to be a free agent at the end of the season. In 106 games, Crochet has a 3.30 ERA, and 306 strikeouts in his five-year career.

04/02/2025: Red Sox double down, showing their faith in star infielder Kristian Campbell

Boston also opened up their checkbook for their No. 2 overall prospect Kristian Campbell despite , signing him to an eight year deal worth $60 million and a club option to extend it two additional years for another $40 million. Campbell, 22, only has seven games under his belt is hitting .400 with a home run, four doubles, four walks and two runs driven in. If all options are vested, Campbell will remain in Boston through the 2034 season and will enter free agency at only 32 years old.

04/02/2025: Merrill, Padres ink deal to keep 2024 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up in San Diego for nearly a decade

Around the same time Campbell was getting his contract from Boston, on the other side of the country outfielder Jackson Merrill was getting his deal from the Padres. Last year's National League Rookie of the Year runner-up, Merrill lead all rookies in games played, hits, average, RBIs, extra-base hits, slugging and OPS. The 21-year-old centerfielder will now anchor the outfield in Petco Park for the next nine years after agreeing to a deal worth $135 million.

04/02/2025: Ketel Marte and Arizona re-work contract extension

Depsite already having a deal firmly in grasp that was agreed upon prior to the 2022 season was going to keep Marte in The Valley through the 2028 season. His new deal, adds three additional years and $64 million to his pay ($46 million of that deffered). Since Marte joined the D-backs in 2017, he's been a staple in the organization, being named to two All-Star teams, a SIlver Slugger, NLCS MVP and finishing top five in NL MVP voting twice.

How will these extensions effect Wyatt Langford's future contract?

Langford, 24, was drafted by the Rangers fourth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft after a College World Series runner-up with the Florida Gators. The outfielder made his MLB Debut on 2024 Opening Day and despite struggling to start his career, he turned it completely around.

He finished his rookie season with a slash line of .253/.325/.415 with 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, 25 doubles, 19 stolen bases, .740 OPS and a 3.1 WAR in 134 games. He ended the year as the American League Rookie of the Month in September, hitting 8 of his 16 home runs in the final 26 games of the season.

To start the 2025 season, Langford has been the leader of the Rangers offense, accounting for two of the team's seven home runs. In his 26 at-bats, Langford is hitting .269 with an .821 OPS and 13 total bases.

Merrill's deal with the Padres is a great example of what the Rangers initial offer should present to Langford and his camp. While we love to think that Langford is the best young player in the game, the counting stats argue that Merrill has had a more productive career thus far.

That doesn't mean Merrill is worth more money than Langford. Worth varies from person-to-person and there's no doubt Texas sees the long-term value that Langford provides.

The truth remains that sometimes making those contract extension deals early in a player's early playing years is something that organization's try to refrain from because their payroll rises. Making a deal like this also comes with its risks that the player doesn't perform under that contract and that can deter teams from doing so. But times are changing and these contracts seem to be a risk that teams are willing to take on.

If Texas believes in Langford as much as it seems like they do and want to show him that believe and confidence, locking up him for the next nine to ten years for around $150 million helps. It also would save the organization some money down the road.