The numbers for the largest contracts in MLB history continue to rise.
Baseball spending seems to have gotten out of control, at least among Major League Baseball's (MLB) wealthiest owners who have no problem awarding huge contracts. So, some of the biggest contracts in MLB history have come in the last few years. But what is the largest MLB contract ever?
Countdown to the biggest MLB contract ever
To show you how far baseball has come financially, we wanted to show you some of the largest MLB contracts of all time.
This is a combination of some of the biggest free agency deals and some huge contract extensions.
13. Gerrit Cole – 9 years, $324 million
Gerrit Cole is the only pitcher to make our list of the 10 largest MLB contracts. When the Yankees were desperate for a bullpen after the 2019 season, they gave Cole a nine-year, $324 million deal to secure his services.
Cole was on the heels of a dominant 2019 season in which he led the American League in both ERA and strikeouts. Oddly enough, Cole has never won a Cy Young and is not always the obvious choice for the best pitcher in baseball. However, he still signed the largest contract of any pitcher.
12. Giancarlo Stanton – 13 years, $325 million
At the time Giancarlo Stanton signed his 13-year, $325 million contract with the Marlins, it was the largest contract the sports world had ever seen. At the time, Stanton was the most feared hitter in the game.
Oddly enough, everything that has happened since has been somewhat predictable. The small market Marlins were unable to continue paying Stanton that much, so they unloaded him and most of his contract to the Yankees.
His performance with the Yankees hasn't quite matched his salary, aside from some postseason heroics in 2024, as Stanton is now a DH who hits the occasional homer but doesn't do much else, making this contract a good example of the risks involved in This type of contract.
11. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 12, $325 million
After arriving from Japan with impressive stats and a ferocious shooting arsenal, there was a race to sign Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the 2023-24 season.
Once again, it was the Los Angeles Dodgers that got the deal done, giving Yamamoto a 12-year contract.
10. Corey Seager – 10 years, $325 million
It's funny how desperation and big contracts often go hand in hand. The Rangers were desperate to revamp their lineup, so they promised Corey Seager $325 million. At the time, Seager was just one year away from being a World Series MVP, so the Rangers thought Seager was worth the investment.
The Texans' desperation was rewarded with a World Series ring in 2023, and Seager joined an elite club by winning his second Fall Classic MVP award.
9. Bryce Harper – 13 years, $330 million
In some ways, it's surprising to see Bryce Harper at the bottom of this list. When he signed with the Phillies for 13 years for $330 million in 2019, it was the largest contract in MLB history.
But after only a few years, he didn't even make it into the top eight.
On the other hand, at 13 years old, Harper's contract is still one of the longest signed, especially for a player who has already played seven seasons in the major leagues. Plus, $330 million over 13 years isn't exactly chump change, and after leading the Phillies to a World Series in 2022, Harper is on track to earn his massive contract.
8. Fernando Tatis Jr. – 14 years, $340 million
The Padres certainly took a risk when they signed Fernando Tatis to a contract extension worth $340 million over 14 years. Tatis was just 22 years old at the time, though he had already won a Silver Slugger Award and went on to lead the National League in home runs in 2021.
On the downside, Tatis did not play at all in 2022 and was suspended at the start of the 2023 season. So, San Diego has already seen the highs and lows of a contract of this size.
Of course, Tatis is still young and can still live up to this massive contract. However, it goes without saying that no other player on this list had so little experience in the major leagues when they signed this deal.
7. Francisco Lindor – 10 years, $341 million
The Mets gave up some big pieces in the trade with Cleveland to get Francisco Lindor, so after that, they had to pay him.
At the time, Lindor already had multiple Gold Gloves and several Silver Slugger Awards, demonstrating that he was one of the best doubles players in the game. This contract also means Lindor will be in New York through the 2031 season when he turns 37, which means if Lindor doesn't age well, this contract won't happen either.
6. Manny Machado – 11 years, $350 million
Manny Machado almost made this list twice because he signed two different contracts worth $300 million. In 2019, he signed a 10-year, $300 million contract. But that deal wasn't enough, so when Machado indicated he would opt out of the deal after the 2023 season, the Padres quickly signed him to a new 11-year, $350 million contract.
This contract comes with a full no-trade clause, keeping Machado in San Diego through the 2033 season. While this seems like a long contract, Machado was only 30 years old at the time of the $350 million extension and has a chance to live up to this deal. .
5. Aaron Judge – 9 years, $360 million
After his historic season ended in 2022, the Yankees had no choice but to give Aaron Judge one of the biggest connections in MLB history.
He clearly deserves this type of contract and has been an integral part of the Yankees throughout his career. According to reports, the Giants have offered Judge a contract worth more than $400 million, which is likely the largest contract in MLB history. But in the end, Judge remains in New York and should be satisfied with his $360 million contract.
4. Mookie Betts – 12 years, $365 million
The Red Sox weren't willing to give Mookie Betts one of the biggest MLB contracts ever, but the Dodgers did. Shortly after the blockbuster 2020 trade that sent Betts to Los Angeles, the Dodgers gave him a 12-year, $365 million extension, keeping him in Los Angeles through the 2032 season.
While Betts still has many years remaining on this deal, he continues to be a star and one of the best players in baseball. In fact, he won both a Gold Glove and a Silver Glove in 2022, so there's no doubt he's still an elite player. The only thing left to do was for Betts to help the Dodgers win the World Series.
3. Mike Trout – 12 years, $426.5 million
The best player in the game for more than half a decade, Mike Trout was bound to get the biggest MLB contract ever. He has since been surpassed by a former teammate and generational colleague, but Trout still sits third on this list.
The 12-year, $426 million extension he received with the Angels came after years of being the best player in the game and someone who will one day be considered among the greatest players of all time.
It remains to be seen whether his recent injury issues will allow him to fully fulfill that deal. But Trout was still worth the risk on such a huge contract. In fact, Trout was the highest-paid player in North American sports history until Patrick Mahomes came along.
2. Shohei Ohtani, 10 years, $700 million
The Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants were suitors for Shohei Ohtani in the 2023-24 season. It was the Dodgers who made the two-way sensation happen, however, giving him a contract worth nearly $300 million larger than the previous record.
Ohtani rewarded Los Angeles by winning the NL Most Valuable Player Award in his first season. The present value of the deal is actually much lower than the final figure due to significant postponements.
1- Juan Soto, 15 years, $765 million
Coming off an incredible 2024 season with the Yankees, Juan Soto was looking for a historic contract. There was always a chance to break Ohtani's record given the age he was hitting free agency, and the New York Mets made sure they made history by landing Soto.
The Soto deal is unprecedented. It does not contain deferred funds like the Ohtani contract. Ohtani is an anomaly, and while Soto is a special talent, he is a hitter and will likely be a DH for most of this deal.
The Mets took one of the game's biggest stars from their city rivals as Steve Cohen showed once again that he will not be outbid.
