It was truly fascinating to see how the perception of Julio Rodríguez changed during the course of the 2025 season with the Seattle Mariners. From being considered overrated back in July after being named an All-Star, to last week’s criticism that he was unfairly snubbed from winning his third AL Silver Slugger Award despite being arguably the best offensive center fielder in the game.

We can objectively acknowledge those who claim Rodríguez still hasn’t quite lived up to his potential, but this is only because of just how ridiculously talented he truly is with the ceiling of a generational superstar. However, this doesn’t take away from the reality that he’s already accomplished a lot in his four-year career, to the level of already leaving his mark in the history books.

When Rodríguez hit his Major League 100th home run in early August, he became the first ever player to begin his MLB career with four consecutive 20-20 seasons (homers and stolen bases). And by season’s end, he became just the second ever player to have multiple 30-30 seasons by age 24 or younger, following on from Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals.

For us, the main thing which goes against Rodríguez is that he’s started each of this four seasons in the big leagues slowly (again though, just based on his high ceiling). However, last time we checked it’s how you finish the season which counts and every single year the three-time All-Star has always stepped up his game during the second half of the campaign and delivered in style.

Julio Rodríguez once more gets the approval of his peers

Which brings us to an interesting development which is on course to benefit Rodríguez’s future in Seattle. It relates to the contract extension he signed back in late August 2022, which has become increasingly significant after he earned his third top-10 finish in voting for 2025 AL MVP by finishing sixth (and just three points out of fifth place).

Lest anyone forget, Rodríguez has a very complicated contract. Where it gets really interesting is in relation to the multi-year club option which the Mariners must exercise or decline following the conclusion of the 2028 World Series.

As per Baseball Prospectus, the length and value of said club option is based on where Rodríguez finishes in AL MVP voting between 2022 and 2028. He so far has three top-10 finishes, which means he’s entitled to $240 million over eight years between 2030-37 paid at $30 million annually.

This is already a jump of $40 million from the $200 million Rodríguez would be in line to earn if he had received no MVP votes between 2022-28, but now he’s in position to see another bump in his future salary. If he manages just one more top-10 finish in AL MVP voting between 2026-28, then he will be eligible to make $260 million over eight years between 2030-37 at $32.5 million annually.

A no-brainer for the Mariners to pick up the club option

We appreciate there is the proviso of the Mariners actually picking up the club option following the 2028 World Series, but this would seem to be a no-brainer if Rodríguez is performing at a level which includes four top-10 AL MVP finishes. In addition he will have just completed his age-27 season, which means he will be slap bang in the middle of his prime.

Interestingly at that point it would also represent the equivalent of signing the richest free agent deal in Mariners history (Robinson Canó, 10 years at $240 million), but again, why wouldn’t you pick up the club option on someone who means so much to the franchise? When it’s all said and done, Rodriguez has the genuine opportunity to challenge Ken Griffey Jr.’s status as the best M’s player of all time.

In fact, if Rodríguez really wants to speed up that particular comparison and discussion, then he should take aim at the top contract escalator in his extension, which would pay him $350 million over 10 years between 2030-39. In order to be eligible for this he must either win two MVP awards or have four top-five finishes in MVP voting (one so far) by the conclusion of the 2028 season, at which point the Mariners really will have a special player on their hands.