The St. Louis Cardinals have signed second baseman JJ Wetherholt to an eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension. The deal runs through the 2034 season and includes incentives that could increase the total value to $132 million.
Wetherholt, 23, was selected seventh overall in the 2024 MLB Draft out of West Virginia University. He has posted strong numbers in his rookie season, including 13 home runs, 91 hits and a .773 OPS entering Friday. He also leads all National League rookies with 57 runs scored and tops MLB second basemen with 16 outs above average.
The extension buys out three years of free agency. Wetherholt said the agreement means a lot to him. “I've always been the kind of guy who wants to respect and do well to those who do well to me, and so for them to take that step toward me, it means a lot,” he said.
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom called the move a step in building around a young core. “We feel that this commitment that we're making with JJ is a nice step,” Bloom said. Manager Oliver Marmol noted the bet on Wetherholt's consistency and work ethic.