BREAKING: Scott Kingery to start in MLB, signs massive deal of up to 9 years

UPDATE: The option years are worth $13 million, $14 million and $15 million, respectively.

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UPDATE: According to Jim Salisbury, the contract guarantees him $24 million; no word yet on the year-by-year amounts.

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UPDATE: Meghan Montemurro tweets it’s a six-year deal with three club option years. In essence, if Kingery is good enough, he’s a Phillie through 2026.

Holy crap.

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UPDATE: According to Jim Salisbury, the Phillies have signed Kingery to a long-term contract. Salisbury then tweeted it’s a six-year deal with options, which will buy out his pre-arbitration and arbitration years.

There is precedence: The Astros in 2014 signed Jonathan Singleton (a former Phillies prospect) to a five-year deal before he started playing in the majors. And in 2008, the Rays signed Evan Longoria to a nine-year contract in 2008, just two weeks into his rookie season.

Wow.

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According to reports, Scott Kingery will be on the 25-man opening day roster.

Kingery will likely play in a hybrid role, getting turns at multiple positions, according to the reports. He is a second baseman but has also played third base, shortstop and the outfield this spring while hitting .392/.415/.725 with four home runs.

We also just found out this morning that Drew Hutchison’s contract was purchased by the Phillies, basically making him a lock for opening day. To make room for Hutchison, the Phillies designated Cameron Rupp for assignment.