Top 10 contracts in MLB history ft. Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, and superstars from the Yankees, Dodgers, Angels, and Padres
The MLB has outdone itself again in the world of sports. Superstar outfielder Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets on Sunday night which superseded Shohei Ohtani's $700 million contract with the Dodgers as the biggest contract in the league.
Soto's contract not only tops the list of MLB's most lucrative deals but is also the biggest contract ever handed to a sportsperson. Soto's contract joins elite company with Ohtani being second on the list of the most lucrative sports contracts— soccer legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are in third and fourth place — and NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes rounds out the top five.
In this list, we will take a look at the biggest contracts ever handed out in Major League Baseball history.
Top 10 contracts in MLB history
10) Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins), Corey Seager (Texas Rangers), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (L.A. Dodgers) - $325 million
It's a three-way tie for tenth place as Giancarlo Stanton, Corey Seager, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto were each given $325 million contracts by their repsective ball clubs.
Stanton signed the richest and longest deal in baseball history in 2014 when he put pen to paper with the Miami Marlins for a 13-year contract. Stanton won an NL MVP in 2017 and has appeared in three All-Star games post this contract extension.
Corey Seager, landed in Texas ahead of the 2022 season for a 10-year deal after making a name for himself with the Dodgers. He won the World Series MVP in 2023 and helped the Rangers clinch the championship giving him his second World Series MVP and title.
Finally, Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed a 12-year deal with the Dodgers this year after a stellar career in Japan's NPB. The pitcher won three straight Pacific League MVPs, Eiji Sawamura Awards, and Japanese Triple Crowns. In the first season of asking, Yamamoto was untouchable in the MLB postseason which garnered him his maiden World Series ring.
9) Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies) - $330 million
One of the greatest sluggers of this generation of MLB players, Bryce Harper made a move to the City of Brotherly Love when he signed a $330 million contract in 2019. Since signing the contract, Harper has won another NL MVP in 2021 and led the Phillies to a National League pennant in the following season.
8) Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres) - $340 million
After just two years in the majors and having just turned 22 years old, Fernando Tatis Jr. was locked down by San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller to a 14-year, $330 million contract to be a franchise cornerstone in 2021. Tatis Jr. rewarded the Padres faithful with two All-Star appearances, two All-MLB first-team selections, and an NLCS appearance for the hefty sum.
7) Francisco Lindor (New York Mets) - $341 million
2024 National League MVP runner-up Francisco Lindor was snapped up by New York Mets owner Steve Cohen in 2021 from the Cleveland Indians after four All-Star selections and two Gold Gloves. Since the move, Lindor has been named to three All-MLB Second teams.
6) Manny Machado (San Diego Padres) - $350 million
San Diego Padres star Manny Machado renewed his commitment with the club ahead of the 2023 MLB season when he signed an $11-year, $350 deal to stay in SoCal until 2033. Machado has been named to two All-MLB First Teams and won two Silver Slugger Awards with the Padres.
5) Aaron Judge (New York Yankees) - $360 million
Aaron Judge was the most talked about person in the '22-'23 offseason, after he broke the American League record for home runs in a season. Judge re-signed with the New York Yankees for a staggering $360 million for a nine-year period.
Judge has since been named as Yankee captain and added another AL MVP award in 2024 becoming the first Yankee since Mickey Mantle in 1958 to win the award unanimously. He also led the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009 but ultimately fell short against Shohei Ohtani's Dodgers.
4) Mookie Betts (L.A. Dodgers) - $365 million
After winning an AL MVP and World Series ring in 2018, the Boston Red Sox traded Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2020 season. During the mid-season break, Betts was handed a 12-year, $365 million contract by the LA Dodgers. Since then, Betts has added two more World Series rings and has been named to four All MLB-First Teams.
3) Mike Trout (L.A. Angels) - $426.5 million
Touted as the best baseball player on the planet in his prime, Mike Trout was given a staggering 12-year, $426.5 million contract in the '18-'19 offseason after two American League MVP awards. The 2012 unanimous Rookie of the Year would add his third MVP award to his collection after winning the AL MVP award in 2019.
Trout is still one of the best sluggers in MLB. However, his persistent injury setbacks have hampered his chances of being in the Greatest of All Time conversation. Many considered Trout to have the potential to be in that conversation before injuries struck.
2) Shohei Ohtani (L.A. Dodgers) - $700 million
Mike Trout's former teammate with the Angels and one of the greatest two-way players the MLB has ever seen—Shohei Ohtani shook the sports world when he and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a 10-year, $700 million deal this year. The contract, however, has deferrals that will only see Ohtani earn $2 million a season until 2033 with the rest being paid after that year.
The deal made Ohtani the athlete with the biggest contract in the history of sports, before being eclipsed by the man who takes the No.1 spot on this list.
Fresh off an American League MVP award in 2023, Ohtani followed it up with a unanimous National League MVP honor in 2024. With the unusual feat, he became the only person since Hall of Famer Frank Robinson to claim MVP awards in both leagues.
Amongst the many feats that the unicorn has accomplished this year, is the opening of the 50-50 club, and his first World Series title.
1) Juan Soto (New York Mets) - $765 million
Free-spending New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and baseball super agent Scott Boras have joined forces to make history by agreeing to the biggest contract ever seen in sports. Juan Soto finished in the top three of the AL MVP race in his one-and-done season with the Yankees. This merited the 26-year-old superstar a staggering 15-year, $765 million contract.
At 26, Soto already has a World Series ring under his belt from his time with the Washington Nationals. He's also a four-time All-Star, three-time All-MLB First Team member, and five-time Silver Slugger awardee.
Unlike Ohtani's contract, Juan Soto's deal will have no deferrals and can see him earn up to $55 million per season.