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1h ago

Nationals Lock Up Jacob Young With Four-Year, $23M Extension

The deal buys out Young’s arbitration years, pushing his earliest free-agency eligibility to 2031 and keeping a top defensive center fielder in Washington.

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Jun 23, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Jacob Young (30) in the dugout before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Multiple outlets reported Friday that the Nationals and Jacob Young agreed to a four-year, $23 million contract with an $8 million club option for a fifth season, a structure that can bring the total to about $30–31 million.
  • The agreement buys out the remaining arbitration years Young otherwise would have negotiated this winter and makes him first eligible for free agency in 2031.
  • Young, 27, is regarded as one of baseball’s best defensive outfielders by Statcast and OAA after strong marks from 2024–26, and the club prioritized that defensive value in the extension.
  • After weak offense in 2024–25, Young posted an offensive uptick in 2026, hitting .252/.318/.390 with a .708–.707 OPS, 10 home runs and 18 steals in 22 attempts, which helped his trade and retention profile.
  • Locking Young into the contract removes him from short-term trade conversations and secures continuity for Washington’s young core, while modest guaranteed dollars limit the team’s long-term financial commitment.