Julio's home OPS this season is .582

[DanielVogelbach]

Comparable Players:

Cody Bellinger (Yankees, CF, $27.5 million, 28th): 2024 stats of .271 AVG, 18 HR, 72 RBI (Web ID: 6). Rodríguez’s similar power-speed-defensive profile at a lower salary suggests better value.

Brandon Nimmo (Mets, LF, $20.5 million, 64th): .252 AVG, 16 HR, 63 RBI in 2024. Rodríguez’s superior power, speed, and defense at a similar salary indicate he’s a better investment.

Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres, RF, $20.7 million, 45th): 20-20 seasons like Rodríguez but with a slightly higher salary. Both are comparable five-tool stars, with Rodríguez offering similar value at a lower cost.

[bpj]

Comparable Players:

Cody Bellinger (Yankees, CF, $27.5 million, 28th): 2024 stats of .271 AVG, 18 HR, 72 RBI (Web ID: 6). Rodríguez’s similar power-speed-defensive profile at a lower salary suggests better value.

Brandon Nimmo (Mets, LF, $20.5 million, 64th): .252 AVG, 16 HR, 63 RBI in 2024. Rodríguez’s superior power, speed, and defense at a similar salary indicate he’s a better investment.

Fernando Tatis Jr. (Padres, RF, $20.7 million, 45th): 20-20 seasons like Rodríguez but with a slightly higher salary. Both are comparable five-tool stars, with Rodríguez offering similar value at a lower cost.

How much did Bellinger, Nimmo, and Tatis get paid in their third or fourth season?

Thats what makes it easy to complain about Julio's contract.

They could be paying him 1/3 what they are and putting the extra towards other good players NOW. Instead they gave up the cheap control for long term control. We'll see if that pays off.

[DanielVogelbach]

How much did Bellinger, Nimmo, and Tatis get paid in their third or fourth season?

I'll take 100% irrelevant for $1,000 Alex.

Bottom line is Julio is on HOF trajectory on a team friendly deal. Jerry has had some flops, but Julio's contract ain't one of 'em.

[Donn Beach]

Isn't a lot of that because he plays CF? I realize that his defense is a big part of the player he is, but he isn't paid like one of the fifteen best players in baseball to hit the way he did in March, April, May and June.

Why do you have it out for this guy? He's on HOF trajectory so far.

Julio Rodríguez’s 2025 salary is $20,235,714, based on his 12-year, $209.3 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. According to MLB salary rankings for 2025, this places him 63rd among all MLB players, per data from Spotrac.com, which tracks player contracts. The top earners, like Juan Soto ($51,875,000) and Shohei Ohtani ($70,000,000), far exceed this, while Rodríguez’s salary is still significant, reflecting his status as a top center fielder. For more details, you can refer to the sports card above or visit Spotrac.com.

Fastest to 100 Home Runs (by Games Played)
Julio Rodríguez reached his 100th career home run on August 3, 2025, in his 542nd game with the Seattle Mariners, as noted in multiple sources. This milestone makes him the third-fastest player in Mariners history to reach 100 home runs by games played. Here’s how he ranks within the Mariners:

Alex Rodriguez: 470 games
Cal Raleigh: 482 games
Julio Rodríguez: 542 games
Jim Presley: 622 games
Alvin Davis: 634 games
Ken Griffey Jr.: 640 games

I already touched on all of that when I posted his average offensive performance in relation to his salary. I don't expect a guy paid in the top 15 in all of baseball to hit like an average baseball player. That is all, no more explanation. I don't have it out for him, I'd just like for him to actually hit a baseball at an above average level for more than the last two or so months of the season. Not sure that is asking too much of the 13th highest paid position player in all of baseball.

Even with his recent hot streak, his .759 OPS is 81st in all of baseball. Yes, I do expect more from a guy paid inside the top 15. Sorry if you think that is me asking for too much. .311 On Base Percentage. I'm old enough to remember when a batting average of .311 wouldn't even be in the top 10 in the AL!

he's getting paid $210 mil over 12 years, that's an average of $17.5 mil a season through his prime years. I think that very likely to age as a very team friendly contract. I would have no problem doing it again.

[Donn Beach]

Someone tell Julio swinging for the fences on every first pitch is not a good hitting strategy.

I think its more his deciding what kind of hitter he should be. He was led to believe the team should cut down on strikeouts, hes done that. Believe he's also tried to hit more to the opposite field. I think that ate into his power. I think he probably fiddles too much. He probably tries to think too much as opposed to not thinking

[bpj]

How much did Bellinger, Nimmo, and Tatis get paid in their third or fourth season?

I'll take 100% irrelevant for $1,000 Alex.

Bottom line is Julio is on HOF trajectory on a team friendly deal. Jerry has had some flops, but Julio's contract ain't one of 'em.

Not irrelevant at all. They're paying him about $13M more this season- in a playoff hunt- than they would've been on the hook for, when they could have put that money towards another good player.

I'll take the extra player now to put us over the top, personally.

I don't much care about 10 years from now when Julio's the only one left.

It's cool hes locked up long term, but it did come at a present cost.

And saying, "Well they should just raise the current payroll instead" doesn't quite pass the reality-check test.

[Donn Beach]

How much did Bellinger, Nimmo, and Tatis get paid in their third or fourth season?

I'll take 100% irrelevant for $1,000 Alex.

Bottom line is Julio is on HOF trajectory on a team friendly deal. Jerry has had some flops, but Julio's contract ain't one of 'em.

Not irrelevant at all. They're paying him about $13M more this season- in a playoff hunt- than they would've been on the hook for, when they could have put that money towards another good player.

I'll take the extra player now to put us over the top, personally.

I don't much care about 10 years from now when Julio's the only one left.

It's cool hes locked up long term, but it did come at a present cost.

sure it comes from with a cost, I think you could be a little low, maybe more like $10 mil. I have no problem at all sacrificing $10 mil this season for the opportunity to have locked him up long term. Dipoto is lousy at spending money in the first place isn't he? I have no problem at all with that trade off
And saying, "Well they should just raise the current payroll instead" doesn't quite pass the reality-check test.

there's an obvious trade off, and its worth it.

[bpj]

I'll take 100% irrelevant for $1,000 Alex.

Bottom line is Julio is on HOF trajectory on a team friendly deal. Jerry has had some flops, but Julio's contract ain't one of 'em.

Not irrelevant at all. They're paying him about $13M more this season- in a playoff hunt- than they would've been on the hook for, when they could have put that money towards another good player.

I'll take the extra player now to put us over the top, personally.

I don't much care about 10 years from now when Julio's the only one left.

It's cool hes locked up long term, but it did come at a present cost.

sure it comes from with a cost, I think you could be a little low, maybe more like $10 mil. I have no problem at all sacrificing $10 mil this season for the opportunity to have locked him up long term. Dipoto is lousy at spending money in the first place isn't he? I have no problem at all with that trade off
And saying, "Well they should just raise the current payroll instead" doesn't quite pass the reality-check test.

there's an obvious trade off, and its worth it.

Yeah, sacrificing the present for the future.

Not sure it is. Especially when we miss the playoffs. Again. Or get knocked out early. But, hey, at least we'll have Julio in 2035!

[Donn Beach]

yeah, and in 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034. It's a about planning for the present as well as planning for the future.

[bpj]

yeah, and in 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034. It's a about planning for the present as well as planning for the future.

Yep, and at least some of those years will prove to be a bargain.

Just comes at the expense of this years payroll when he would have otherwise earned peanuts and the money they gave him could have bought someone else to help in 2025.

Kind of like paying Ichiro 20% of payroll as he aged. No, it wasn't the end of the world. But it is money they could have improved multiple other positions with.