Mariners star Julio Rodriguez signs ‘multi-year deal’ with Adidas ahead of World Baseball Classic
Seattle Mariners young star Julio Rodriguez signs a ‘multi-year deal’ with Adidas ahead of the World Baseball Classic, after signing an unprecedented deal that could become the biggest in MLB history
Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez increased his endorsement roster by signing an endorsement deal with Adidas.
Last season’s AL Rookie of the Year signed with the German sportswear company in a multi-year deal, according to FrontOfficeSports.
“It was important to align myself with a brand that I could perform with on the field at a high level and also feel comfortable off the field,” Rodríguez told the outlet.
This deal comes on the heels of another contract the Dominican star signed over the summer that guarantees him $210 million over 12 years.
But the deal structure is complicated, allowing it to grow to $470 million over 17 years, which would break records for the longest and most expensive MLB contract in history.
Mariners star Julio Rodriguez signed a deal with Adidas ahead of the World Baseball Classic
Rodríguez joins Adidas after signing a complicated but lucrative contract with the Mariners
After a few more games in spring training, Rodríguez will join the Dominican team in the WBC
The deal structure keeps Rodriguez in Seattle through 2029 for $120 million and then gives the Mariners the option to extend it for up to 10 more seasons.
If Seattle decides to pass, the player has the option to opt for a five-year contract worth $90 million.
“Going into the negotiations, the most important thing for me was to have some advantage built into the contract,” Rodriguez said.
“What we ended up with is a really unique structure that gives me security but also bets on myself and my potential.”
The Mariners farm prospect will only play a couple more games in spring training before joining his compatriots in the World Baseball Classic for an dominated Dominican Republic team.
“In the DR, baseball is everything,” he said.
“I love seeing all the fans and sports in the US, but in the DR it’s like all that fandom has come together. There is so much passion and energy in every entry. You will see him soon in the WBC.