Padres player earns $5 million with his 500th plate appearance

San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill earned himself an additional $5 million with his 500th plate appearance on Friday.

The 2026 milestone kicked in a clause in Merrill’s contract that adds an $1 million to his salary for five years, increasing the total value of his contract from $135 million to a minimum of $140 million.

Merrill signed a nine-year extension with the Padres early in 2025 after just one year in the majors, finishing runner-up in the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year voting, also finishing ninth in MVP voting as a 21-year-old.

Now 23, Merrill has come alive after a disappointing first half, batting .333 with a 1.014 OPS in 27 games since the All-Star break. He hit nine home runs in that stretch after 10 in his first 93 games of the season.

Guess what? The Dodgers don’t have MLB’s highest payroll!

Due to the team’s heavy use use of deferred contracts, MLB’s Labor Relations Department’s present-day salary calculations has the Mets at No. 1.

(Payrolls entering opening day)

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Guess what? The Dodgers don’t have MLB’s highest payroll!

Due to the team’s heavy use use of deferred contracts, MLB’s Labor Relations Department’s present-day salary calculations has the Mets at No. 1.

(Payrolls entering opening day)

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30) Cleveland Guardians — $69,984,029

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28) Chicago White Sox — $83,892,150

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27) Washington Nationals — $87,955,033

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24) Minnesota Twins — $96,726,784

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23) St. Louis Cardinals — $98,115,902

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22) Pittsburgh Pirates — $102,058,886

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21) Colorado Rockies — $118,302,854

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20) Cincinnati Reds — $124,308,099

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19) Milwaukee Brewers — $125,467,605

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18) Kansas City Royals — $141,244,816

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17) Seattle Mariners — $160,726,794

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16) Baltimore Orioles — $170,369,743

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15) Los Angeles Angels — $179,002,696

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14) Arizona Diamondbacks — $183,460,266

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12) Boston Red Sox — $198,883,374

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11) San Francisco Giants — $200,800,003

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10) Detroit Tigers — $209,415,401

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8) San Diego Padres — $224,833,896

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5) Toronto Blue Jays — $278,989,858

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4) Philadelphia Phillies — $283,686,918

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3) New York Yankees — $301,064,810

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2) Los Angeles Dodgers — $322,385,057

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