The Oakland Athletics have signed catcher Tyler Soderstrom to a seven-year, $86 million extension, pushing the Chicago White Sox's previous franchise-record deal back to the bottom of MLB. This agreement guarantees Soderstrom $86 million, surpassing the White Sox's $75 million contract with outfielder Andrew Benintendi. The move highlights the White Sox's ongoing challenges in committing to high-value extensions amid their rebuilding efforts.
The Oakland Athletics acted on December 26, 2025, by extending Tyler Soderstrom for seven years at $86 million, a deal that includes potential escalators up to $131 million with a 2033 club option. According to MLB reporter Jeff Passan, this guaranteed amount now stands as the highest in Athletics history and displaces the Chicago White Sox from their position just above the league's lowest franchise-record contracts.
Previously, the White Sox held the MLB's smallest top contract with Benintendi's $75 million pact from 2022. The Athletics had been the only team separating them from last place, but recent moves—including a three-year, $67 million deal for Luis Severino and extensions for Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler—have elevated Oakland. Other small-market teams like the Rays, Guardians, Pirates, Reds, and Royals have also surpassed the White Sox through extensions, though their free-agent deals remain below Benintendi's.
The White Sox's last significant extensions occurred before the 2020 season: Yoán Moncada's five-year, $70 million deal, Eloy Jiménez's six-year, $43 million agreement, and Luis Robert Jr.'s six-year, $50 million extension. Recently, the team exercised a $20 million option for 2026 on an unspecified player, adding $68 million over seven years, but doubts linger about fully honoring it.
As the White Sox build around prospects like Kyle Teel, Noah Schultz, and Hagen Smith, general manager Chris Getz has expressed excitement over signing Munetaka Murakami, viewing it as a step toward bigger commitments under owner Justin Ishbia's potential influence. This contrast underscores the franchise's cautious approach in a competitive landscape.
