Athletics Lock Up Jacob Wilson: How AI Futures Models See This $70M Investment

The Athletics just locked up their brightest young star, signing All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson to a 7-year, $70 million extension with a club option for an eighth season. For beginners learning baseball futures betting, this is exactly the type of front office move that signals organizational confidence. Here's what our AI models love about this deal: Wilson was the first fan-elected rookie All-Star starting shortstop in MLB history. In his first full season (2025), the 23-year-old posted a .311 batting average (third in the American League), 151 hits, 13 home runs, and 63 RBI across 125 games. His .800 OPS and 3.0 WAR earned him second place in AL Rookie of the Year voting behind unanimous winner and teammate Nick Kurtz. The AI futures translation: Oakland is building something special before their 2028 Las Vegas move. Wilson joins an already-extended core including Brent Rooker (5 years, $60M), Lawrence Butler (7 years, $65.5M), and Tyler Soderstrom (7 years, $86M, the richest contract in franchise history). Our models project Athletics win total should increase 1.5-2 wins based on sustained player development and commitment to their young core. Current Athletics futures odds (+4500 to win AL West) may be undervalued if this youth movement continues producing. For first-time futures bettors: when a franchise locks up multiple young stars simultaneously, they're betting on themselves. History shows teams that commit to homegrown talent early often outperform market expectations within 2-3 years.