Fernando Tatis Jr., the emerging face of baseball, agreed to a 14-year, $340 million contract extension with the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, securing one of the largest guarantees in American sports history and wedding himself to the team with which he quickly established himself as a star, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN.

The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Tatis, whose dazzling shortstop play is perhaps exceeded by his prowess at the plate, went to San Diego via trade and is now the player around whom the Padres will build a team equipped to win a championship.

The mutual admiration between the team and Tatis was clear enough that the Padres hoped it wouldn't be a mistake.

And with a deal that will lock him up for nearly a decade and a half, through his age-35 season, the Padres convinced Tatis that small-market San Diego is where he belongs.

The $340 million marks the largest deal given to a player before he reaches arbitration -- nearly $200 million more than Trout's first contract extension.

Fernando Tatis Jr.'s $340 million extension is the third-largest contract handed out in major league history.

To become that so quickly, not just finishing fourth in the MVP voting in 2020 but compelling a team to guarantee $340 million, speaks to the Padres' commitment to Tatis.