Jake Cronenworth

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Jake Cronenworth's $11.4M deal lands at an A Contract Value Index, signaling how San Diego priced the production curve of a reliable everyday second baseman entering his age-32 season. The 2026 campaign has been brutal in the box—.144 AVG, 1 HR, 23 K across 32 games—yet the A+ performance grade reflects his established track record as a contact-skill operator and defensive utility player rather than the tail end of a slump; CVI rewards players who have earned their salary through sustained production, and Cronenworth's seven-year résumé backs the math. At the midpoint of the contract, seven years at just over $11M annually is precisely where you want to anchor a second baseman who produces above-replacement-level offense and doesn't tie up the full luxury-tax burden of a star-caliber corner infielder. The concerning layer here is availability: the recent concussion from a 96 MPH facial impact has landed him on the injured list with real uncertainty around both timeline and long-term effects, a medical reality that the CVI grade cannot retroactively adjust for but which clearly weighs on both the franchise and the fan base heading into a stretch run with the Padres sitting at 34-32 and chasing playoff footing. His status as a seven-year veteran at 32 means the club is in the execution phase of this deal, not gambling on upside—every healthy season remaining is bonus, not expectation. Until Cronenworth clears protocol and proves the impact carries no lasting damage, the contract remains fairly valued, but his immediate on-field contribution to San Diego's competitive window now hinges on a medical recovery that remains in flux.

Performance Analysis