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1h ago

Nationals Lock Up Jacob Young With Four-Year Extension

The deal buys out Young’s arbitration years, pushing his first free-agent eligibility to 2031 and shortening his time on the trade market.

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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

  • Jacob Young and the Washington Nationals agreed to a four-year, $23 million extension with an $8 million club option for a fifth season, reports first surfaced Friday and the team had not immediately issued a formal announcement.
  • The contract guarantees $23 million over four years and can reach roughly $30–31 million if the club picks up the fifth-year option; the structure replaces his remaining arbitration years and delays free agency until 2031.
  • Young’s elite defense remains the core reason for the commitment, with Statcast crediting him with 46 Outs Above Average over the past three seasons, placing him among the very best outfield defenders in baseball.
  • He also posted an offensive uptick in 2026, hitting .252/.318/.390 with a .708 OPS, 10 home runs and 18 steals in 22 attempts, which increased his trade and extension value despite a still-just-below-average bat overall.
  • The move follows the Nationals’ recent pattern of short, cost-controlled extensions and is expected to halt near-term trade interest in Young while shaping Washington’s winter roster decisions around keeping its young core.