SEATTLE — Remember all that fervor from fans a couple years ago that the Mariners don’t spend, don’t invest in talent?

It was a flawed logic from the get-go as the M’s had recently went out and got Robbie Ray for a $100+ plus deal in free agency while signing highly lucrative extensions with Luis Castillo, and of course, Julio Rodriguez.

Since then, the Mariners gave big-time extensions with major money commitments to Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor.

They understand the window is now.

But, they’re also planning for the future.

Earlier this week the Mariners signed their top prospect Colt Emerson to a massive 8 year $95 million contract extension that keeps him under club control through at least 2034 with a club option for a 9th year.

It is a record for the largest MLB contract given to a prospect who’s never played at the game’s highest level. For the Mariners, it’s a statement of their belief in Emerson, whom they selected in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft which just happened to take place in Seattle during that year’s All-Star festivities.

It’s a testament to Emerson’s progress and a calculated gamble from the Mariners front office. If Emerson hits as the front office believes he will, then it’s a steal of a deal. But there’s always the risk of having that faith not necessarily translate to the MLB level.

To put it in perspective, while this is a very basic way of looking at it with incentives and different ways that contracts are paid out, but Emerson’s 8 year $95 million deal comes in at an average yearly value of $11.87 million. Current starting shortstop J.P. Crawford is in the final year of a 5 year $51 million deal which averages around $10 million per season on average.

That’s not a knock on J.P., not at all, rather a resounding statement of belief in the 20-year-old prospect.

Moreover, it’s a statement of aggression when it comes to making this roster built for sustained success. The Mariners have Naylor, Raleigh, Rodriguez and now Emerson all under contract through at least 2030. So while the window is now, it may not be completely shut for a long time to come.

A record-breaking deal. That’s what it took and the Mariners gladly obliged, which should further debunk the aforementioned false notions but regardless, it’s a great moment for Mariners fans.

Whether it’s major contract extensions or the big time trades, the M’s have pulled off in recent memory, this team is sending a message.

World Series or bust.