The San Diego Padres’ spending spree from the offseason carried into the 2023 MLB season. According to multiple reports, the Padres agreed to a seven-year, $80 million extension with their All-Star second baseman Jake Cronenworth.
The extension will start in 2024 and buys off two of Cronenworth’s arbitration-eligible years. The 29-year-old will earn a base salary of $4.23 million this season after signing a deal with the Padres in January that allowed the two sides to avoid arbitration.
The Padres have been active in keeping their talent in-house on long-term deals after the 2022 MLB season wrapped up. Besides Cronenworth, the team also came to terms on extensions with superstar third baseman Manny Machado and starting pitchers Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish. The franchise is reportedly also considering doing the same with closer Josh Hader, center fielder Trent Grisham, and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.
Jake Cronenworth, a seventh-round pick in 2015, joined the Padres in 2019 in a trade that saw Hunter Renfroe and Xavier Edwards go to Tampa Bay Rays. Cronenworth made his MLB debut in 2020 and has since established himself as one of the team’s more valuable players thanks to his ability to play several positions.
Cronenworth played 158 games last season, batting .239 with 17 home runs and 88 RBIs. As a result of his performances, he earned his second consecutive All-Star nod.
