Cooper Pratt deal with Brewers can escalate by $10 million if he finishes high in MVP vote

Shortstop prospect Cooper Pratt's $50.75 million, eight-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers includes escalators that could raise the value by $10 million if he repeatedly finishes high in MVP voting and the team exercises its two options.

Pratt, who has yet to play in the major leagues, gets a $3 million signing bonus as part of the deal announced Friday.

His contract calls for salaries of $2.5 million this year, $3.5 million in 2027, $4 million each in 2028 and '29, $5 million apiece in 2030 and ’31, $10.75 million in 2032 and $13 million in 2033, according to details obtained by The Associated Press.

Milwaukee has $15 million options for 2034 and '35, and each option would increase by up to $5 million: $2 million for winning a MVP award, $1 million for finishing second or third in the voting, $500,000 for fourth or fifth, and $250,000 for sixth through 10th.

He would earn award bonuses of $200,000 for each All-Star selection or Gold Glove award.

Pratt, who received a $1.35 initial signing bonus as a sixth-round draft pick in the 2023 amateur draft, is rated as the No. 51 prospect by Baseball America and No. 62 by MLB Pipeline. He hit .238 with a .343 on-base percentage, eight homers, 62 RBIs, 31 steals and 67 walks in 120 games with Double-A Biloxi last season.

AP Sports Writer Steve Megargee contributed to this report.

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FILE - Milwaukee Brewers infielder Cooper Pratt poses for an official photo, Feb. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left biceps strain on Monday.

Right-handed pitcher Javier Assad was recalled from Triple-A Iowa and will start in Boyd's place against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

The 35-year-old Boyd, an All-Star last season for the first time in his career, was Chicago's starter on opening day. He is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts this season for Chicago. He has 17 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings.

Assad was 4-1 with a 3.65 ERA in eight games for the Cubs in 2025. He's 18-12 with a 3.43 ERA in 78 games, including 54 starts, in four seasons.

Boyd is the second starting pitcher to go down already for the Cubs. Righty Cade Horton was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday because of a right forearm strain. He exited his start against Cleveland on Friday after facing just four batters.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Chicago Cubs starter Matthew Boyd delivers a pitch during a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)