dailyloe.com – The Milwaukee Brewers are finalizing a surprising eight-year contract with minor league prospect Cooper Pratt, a deal worth $50.75 million guaranteed. The agreement, first reported by USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, includes two club options valued at approximately $15 million each. This secures the 21-year-old infielder’s future well before his expected major league debut.
Specific financial details were confirmed by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic adds that the contract contains escalators on the club option years. Pratt is represented by the prominent Boras Corporation agency.
The Brewers must now create space for Pratt on their 40-man roster. This extension is notable for its timing and scope. Pratt has not yet played a game in Major League Baseball.
He only made his Triple-A debut a few days ago. Pratt was not scheduled to be eligible for the Rule 5 draft until December 2027. Long-term deals for players without MLB experience are growing more common.
This contract, however, is considered more aggressive than most. Typically, such extensions involve players on the immediate cusp of a major league promotion. Pratt’s situation differs significantly from that precedent.
The Brewers previously signed Jackson Chourio to an $82 million deal over two years ago. Chourio was a consensus top-three prospect who finished a season at Triple-A. He was widely expected to join the Brewers’ opening day roster in 2024.
In contrast, Cooper Pratt ranks lower on most prospect evaluations. Baseball America places him highest at number 50 on its top 100 list. MLB Pipeline ranks him 62nd, while ESPN lists him at 70.
The Athletic ranks Pratt at number 99. He does not appear on FanGraphs’ top prospect list at all. His performance last season at Double-A was solid but not spectacular.
He posted a batting line of .238/.343/.348 with a 107 wRC+. He has only just begun his 2024 season at the Triple-A level. The deal represents a major bet on his future development by the Brewers’ front office.[]
Source: MLB Trade Rumors
