Nationals, Ruiz agree to 8-year extension reportedly worth $50M
The Washington Nationals and catcher Keibert Ruiz agreed to an eight-year contract extension, the club announced Saturday.
Ruiz's pact will pay him $50 million, a source told MASN's Mark Zuckerman.
The deal covers two pre-arbitration years, all three of Ruiz's arbitration years, and three years of free agency, plus a pair of club options after that. He will be under team control through at least the 2030 season.
Keibert Ruiz’s eight-year contract w the Nationals easily sets a new precedent. Among catchers who signed when they had service time similar to Ruiz’s short time in the big leagues, Salvador Perez had the longest deal — of five years.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 11, 2023
"I've been waiting my whole life for this moment," Ruiz said Saturday, according to Zuckerman.
The Nationals acquired Ruiz as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2021 trade deadline.
Ruiz slashed .251/.313/.360 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs, and he accrued 1.7 fWAR in 112 games for the Nationals last season.
The 24-year-old owns a career 93 wRC+ with 11 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 25 doubles over his first 143 major-league games.