Cardinals make a huge $112.5 million JJ Wetherholt contract decision

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The St. Louis Cardinals have had a pretty fun 2026 season, as they came into the year as a rebuilding team, but now, they might be buying at the trade deadline for a postseason push.

A huge piece of the puzzle has been rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt, who is having just an incredible rookie season. And this rookie year just got a lot better for Wetherholt as well.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Cardinals and Wetherholt are in agreement on a massive nine-figure contract extension to tie him to the franchise multiple seasons beyond his initial free agency. The Cardinals' rookie just got paid.

Cardinals to sign JJ Wetherholt to nine-figure contract extension

"BREAKING: Rookie standout JJ Wetherholt and the St. Louis Cardinals are in agreement on a long-term contract extension that will buy out multiple years of free agency, sources tell ESPN," Passan reports. "Wetherholt, 23, has been tremendous and is the latest rookie to land a nine-figure contract."

Wetherholt, the 23-year-old rookie infielder, is now going to make a ton of money for a long time, all with the Cardinals franchise.

According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, "BREAKING: Star rookie 2B JJ Wetherholt and St. Louis Cardinals in agreement on 8-year, $112.5m deal. No options." Heyman followed up that with the following report: "Deal can max out at $132m."

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Getting this extension done now, before his contract number soars even higher, is a great move from Chaim Bloom and the Cardinals front office.

The seventh overall pick during the 2024 MLB Draft is proving to be one of the best youngsters in the game right now.

He has already put up 3.9 bWAR with a .267 batting average, 13 homers, 91 hits, 36 RBIs, and a .773 OPS with a 118 OPS+ to go with solid defense as well.

Wetherholt will be sticking around for the next eight years, buying out two years after he was normally going to hit free agency, and paying him a hefty nine-figure deal.