​PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 27: JJ Wetherholt #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a solo home run during the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) GettyThe St. Louis Cardinals are looking to extend JJ Wetherholt GettyJust a few days ago, the St. Louis Cardinals and rookie phenom JJ Wetherholt were in agreement on an eight-year, $112.5 million contract, which keeps Wetherholt in St. Louis for the foreseeable future (2034). There are no opt-outs in the deal.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlso, the contract has incentives on it, so it could actually end up netting Wetherholt more cash if he earns notable accolades across MLB. Wetherholt, who has been the Cardinals‘ top farm system product since being drafted, was an obvious candidate to be extended rather quickly in his career.On July 13, new reporting emerged that clarified some more details on Wetherholt’s contract.More MLB on Heavy: Chicago Cubs Proposed Trade with Red Sox Involves Matt ShawSt. Louis Cardinals JJ WetherholtGettyPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 27: JJ Wetherholt #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a solo home run during the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 27, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRonald Blum of the Associated Press reported some new specifics of JJ Wetherholt’s massive contract extension:“St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt has $20 million in escalators based on MVP voting and All-Star selection as part of his $112.5 million, eight-year contract that starts next year. Wetherholt receives a $2 million signing bonus payable on Nov. 15 under terms of the deal announced Friday, according to contract details obtained by The Associated Press.”Blum also wrote: “He gets salaries of $2.5 million next season, $4 million in 2028, $7.5 million in 2029, $12.5 million in 2030, $17 million in 2031, $20 million in 2032, $22 million in 2033 and $25 million in 2034. Wetherholt can start earning the escalators in 2031 and boost his salaries by up to $5 million in 2032 and $7.5 million in each of the following two seasons.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMore MLB on Heavy: 6-Year Atlanta Braves Legend Makes Honest Didier Fuentes StatementJJ WetherholtGettyST LOUIS, MISSOURI – MARCH 29: JJ Wetherholt #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws to first base against the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium on March 29, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)JJ Wetherholt has played just 90 MLB games, and his bWAR is already 3.8.Across 351 at-bats, Wetherholt is batting .259 with 13 home runs, 10 doubles, and an OPS+ of 115.He could be considered the favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSome of his other stats (across his first 90 games)