Texas Rangers' Adolis Garcia reacts after striking out in the third inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
California team extends Brent Rooker
The Athletics of Northern California have agreed on a five year contract extension with Brent Rooker
The Athletics of the Northern California Geographic Region have agreed to terms on a five year, $60 million contract extension with DH Brent Rooker, per multiple reports. The deal includes a vesting option for a sixth year at $22 million.
Rooker was claimed on waivers by the A’s from the Kansas City Royals in November, 2022, and since joining the A’s has been extremely productive, slashing .272/.348/.528 for Oakland with 69 home runs the past two years. Rooker put up a .293/.365/.562 slash line last year, when he finished 10th in the MVP balloting with a 5.6 bWAR.
Rooker is entering his age 30 season, and had bounced around before finding a home in Oakland. Originally a first round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2017, Rooker was not good in limited playing time for the Twins in 2020 and 2021 before being sent to the San Diego Padres as part of the Chris Paddack/Taylor Rogers deal on the eve of the 2022 season. The Padres traded him at the deadline that summer to the Royals for Cam Gallagher, with Kansas City putting him on waivers three months later.
Rooker was arbitration-eligible for the first time this year, but won’t have to worry about that now, as the deal buys out all three arbitration years as well as two, and possibly three, free agent years.
