Who has the biggest contract in the MLB? 10 highest paid baseball players

Major League Baseball, MLB, has existed since 1903, but the game's origins extend back to the 1800s. And while the sport has since been surpassed by football as the most popular sport in the United States of America, there is plenty of money in baseball, and the one thing that can attest to that is the size of the biggest contracts in the MLB.

The league is said to have grossed nearly $11 billion in revenue just for the 2019 season, up from the previous record of $10.3 billion set in 2018. The sport also generates that much income from several lucrative television deals, including a whopping $5.1 billion broadcast deal with Fox Sports that will run through 2028.

Who has the biggest contract in MLB history?

This list of some of the most significant MLB contracts will awesomely surprise you, considering how much baseball players are paid. With some of the players' contracts translating to over $350 million, then it is certain that the sport has some enticing figures at the bank.

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After an in-depth analysis, Sports Brief has compiled a list displaying some of the largest MLB contracts in total value. Check out to discover some of the greatest baseball players whose teams were and are willing to break banks for.

10. Nolan Arenado - $260 million

• Years: 2019 to 2026
• Team: Colorado (Later traded to St Louis Cardinals in 2021)
• Average annual salary: $32.5 million
• Signing age: 27

Nolan James Arenado is an American-based professional baseball third baseman who plays for the St Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball, MLB team. He is renowned for being an elite third baseman, both offensively and defensively.

Less than a month after Nolan agreed to then-record one-year, $26 million contract with Colorado, he hammered out an extension with the club. He added seven years, worth $235 million, to his existing contract with Colorado.

9. Alex Rodriguez - $275 million

• Years: 2008 to 2010
• Team: Yankees
• Average annual salary: $27.5 million
• Signing age: 32

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The skilled baseball player opted out of his 10-year, $252 million contract with Texas Rangers in October 2007 and later re-signed by the Yankees in 2008 for ten years in a deal worth $275 million. Consequently, it became one of the largest contracts MLB has ever seen, even surpassing his previous contract.

Even though he retired during the 2016 season, before his 10-year contract was officially up, he is still regarded among the biggest contract in the MLB as of 2023.

8. Manny Machado - $300 million

• Years: 2019 to 2028
• Team: San Diego Padres 
• Average annual salary: $30 million
• Signing age: 26

At the eighth position sits Manny Machado, who set the record for the largest free-agent contract in the history of MLB, when he signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with San Diego Padres. Just before signing in Machado, San Padres had given out just a $100 million contract in franchise history.

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7. Gerrit Cole - $324 million

• Years: 2020 to 2028
• Team: New York Yankees
• Average annual salary: $36 million
• Signing age: 29

Gerrit Cole is an American-based professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Before his current team, he previously played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros. In 2020, the professional player signed a 9-year, $324 million contract with New York Yankees.

Well, the Yankees are known to be one of the wealthiest teams in the MLB. Therefore, they had no problem breaking the bank for a gem like Gerrit Cole.

6. Giancarlo Stanton - $325 million

• Years: 2015 to 2028
• Team: Miami Marlins
• Average annual salary: $25 million
• Signing age: 25

After signing the sport's then-richest contract following the $2014 season, the professional athlete played more years with the Miami Marlins before being traded to the New York Yankees. His signing became one of the largest MLB contracts in total value then.

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5. Bryce Harper - $330 million

• Years: 2019 to 2031
• Team: Philadelphia Phillies 
• Average annual salary: $25.4 million
• Signing age: 26

A 6-time All-Star player, Bryce Harper, was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019 following the Most Valuable Player award he won during the same season. Although he got traded to his current team, the Washington Nationals, his previous team, were not as pleased as they put a price on his worth.

Looking at his current team, Philadelphia Phillies, registered among the largest MLB contracts by team, especially following his signing.

4. Fernando Tatis Jr - $340 million

• Years: 2021 to 2031
• Team: San Diego Padres
• Average annual salary: $24.3 million
• Signing age: 22

Player Fernando Tatis Jr was not only set to become a free agent until after the 2024 season but was also not eligible for arbitration yet. However, San Diego Padres notably saw that it needed to ensure that he stayed with them for the coming decade.

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Consequently, it became clear that most teams were increasingly signing younger players to long-term contracts at the service-time level.

3. Francisco Lindor - $341 million

• Years: 2022 to 2031
• Team: New York Mets
• Average annual salary: $34.1 million
• Signing age: 27

In 2021, the New York Mets presented a contract worth $341 million to Cleveland Indian's shortstop, Francisco Lindor. As a result, it became one of the biggest deals in the sport's history. With an additional signing bonus of $21 million, the player was also eligible for a $50 million deferred compensation.

It is no wonder he is among the biggest contract in the MLB right now.

2. Mookie Bets - $365 million

• Years: 2021 to 2031
• Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Average annual salary: $30.4 million
• Signing age: 27

At the second position sits one of the most decorated baseball players in the sport's history, Mookie Bets, the right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He is renowned for being the first athlete to win the Most Valuable Player, batting title, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, and World Series in the same season of MBL history. 

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To date, Mookie still ranks among the biggest contracts in MLB history.

1. Mike Trout - $426.5 million

• Years: 2019 to 2031
• Team: Los Angeles Angels
• Average annual salary: $35.5 million
• Signing age: 27

Mike Trout's contract, signed in March 2019, added two years to the skilled outfielder's existing deal with the Los Angeles Angels. Even though the existing money was not included, the player's $360 million worth of extension remains the richest deal in the whole of North American professional sports history at the time he signed.

Interestingly, as of 2023, Mike Trout has the third-biggest contract in professional sports history, eclipsed only by two legends, Lionel Messi and Patrick Mahomes.

Who is the highest-paid MLB player of 2023?

Major League Baseball is among the wealthiest leagues in the world. It often pays its players large sums of money as salaries.

Justin Verlander: $43,333,333

Justin Brooks Verlander is an American-based professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. He is a well-decorated player and is currently the highest-paid in 2023.

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Even though some baseball owners claim that owning a team is not profitable, the actual size of the biggest contract in the MLB clearly speaks otherwise. Keep in mind that players are not just given these contracts. Rather, they consistently prove their worth day in and day out. Nothing good comes easy!

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