Ever since Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets, the tag line that has been associated with it has been that he is the richest owner in baseball. That became more evident than ever before the 2024 winter meetings, as the Mets and outfielder Juan Soto on Sunday night reportedly agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal. It’s the largest (and longest) contract in MLB history, surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal with the Dodgers from last year.
Here’s a look at the top 10 deals ever handed out in MLB, and how those players fared after signing their historic contracts.
(Note: these values ​​are based on data from Spotrac.com)
1. Juan Soto, New York Mets: $765 million over 15 years (reported)
- Soto’s 15-year contract tops Fernando Tatis Jr.’s. The 14-year extension is the longest in MLB history. He will be 40 when the deal ends.
- Career stats: .285/.421/.532, 201 HRs, 592 RBIs, 769 BBs, 395 XBH, 160 OPS+
- Five-time Silver Slugger, four-time All-Star
- The top three finish in the MVP voting
- 2020 batting champion
- MLB leads in walks three times, slugging percentage twice, slugging once, OPS once
2. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers: $700 million over 10 years
- After spending the first six seasons of his MLB career with the Angels, Ohtani signed a record-breaking contract through 2023 to stay in Southern California and play for the Dodgers. The deal, which includes $680 million in deferred compensation, will expire after Ohtani turns 39 years old.
- Stat line after deal (2024): .310/.390/.646/, 54 HRs, 130 RBIs, 99 XBH, 59 SBs
- Career pitch (did not appear in 2024): 38-19, 481.2 IP, 3.01 ERA, 608 K, 1.082 WHIP
- One of just nine players in MLB history with multiple 40-HR and 20-SB seasons
- Three-time unanimous MVP (only player to win unanimously more times)
- Before Ohtani, the most homers hit by a player with 10 or more wins as a pitcher was 11 by Babe Ruth in 1918. Ohtani hit 46 in 2021, 34 in 2022 and 44 in 2023.
- Ohtani is the only American League pitcher in 2022 with at least 130 innings to hold opponents to a batting average below .200.
- A four-time All-Star
- Two-time AL MVP (2021, 2023); NL MVP (2024)
- Three-time Silver Slugger
- For the fourth time in 2022 AL Cy Young voting
3. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: $426.5 million over 12 years
- Trout signed the deal in 2019, and it runs through the 2030 MLB season, when he will be 39 years old.
- Stat line after extension (2019): .281/.397/.598/.995, 138 HRs, 306 RBIs, 168 OPS+
- Highlights since extension: Four-time All-Star2019 AL MVPTwo Silver SluggerMissed 417 of a possible 870 games
- A four-time All-Star
- 2019 AL MVP
- Two-time Silver Slugger
- He missed 417 of a possible 870 games
4. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers: $365 million over 12 years
- After being traded to the Red Sox in 2020, Betts signed a 12-year extension with an MLB record signing bonus of $65 million. The bet helped bring home a World Series title that year.
- Stat line after extension (2021): .288/.373/.527/, 116 HRs, 322 RBIs, 145 OPS+
- Highlights from the stretch: Three-time All-Star Finished in the top five in MVP voting twice2022 Gold Glove Two-time Silver Slugger
- A three-time All-Star
- He finished in the top five in MVP voting twice
- 2022 Gold Glove
- Two-time Silver Slugger
5. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees: $360 million over nine years
- Before 2022, the Judge made a bet. After that, the slugger made history and hit an AL-record 62 homers and received his $360 million contract. The deal will take him through the 2031 MLB season, when he will be 39 years old.
- Post-deal stat line (2023): .300/.438/.666/, 95 HRs, 219 RBIs, 204 OPS+
- Highlights from extension: AL MVPTwo-time All-Star223 OPS+ in 2024 was highest by right-handed hitter in MLB history
- 2024 AL MVP
- Two-time All-Star
- 223 OPS+ in 2024 was the highest by a right-handed hitter in MLB history
6. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres: $350 million over 11 years
- After signing a 10-year, $300 million deal with the Padres in free agency in 2019, Machado re-joined San Diego for a $350 million deal. Machado will be 43 years old when the final year of the deal hits.
- Stat line after extension (2023): .267/.322/.467/, 59 HRs, 196 RBIs, 116 OPS+
- Notable from the expansion: The Silver Slugger
- The Silver Slugger
7. Francisco Lindor, New York Met: $341 million over 10 years
- Lindor was the face of the Cleveland franchise but was traded to the Mets and agreed to an extension with the team through 2021. The deal is done through the 2031 season, but his contract is based on $50 million in deferred cash that he has to make at $5. million in annual payments from 2032 to 2041.
- Stat line after extension (2021): .259/.336/.461/, 110 HRs, 359 RBIs, 86 SBs 122 OPS+
- Notable from extension: 2024 MVP runner-up Two-time Silver Slugger
- 2024 MVP runner-up
- Two-time Silver Slugger
8. Fernando Tatis Jr, San Diego Padres: $340 million over 14 years
- Tatis Jr. he signed his 22-year-old contract in 2021. The deal, far from the last long-term commitment on San Diego’s books, will take him through the 2034 season, when he will be 35 years old. .
- Stat line after extension (2021): .271/.341/.514/, 88 HRs, 224 RBIs, 65 SBs 134 OPS+
- Suspended 80 games for using performance-enhancing drugs in August 2022
- Highlights from the stretch: Two-time All-StarOne-time Gold Glove, Silver Slugger
- Two-time All-Star
- One-time Gold Glove, Silver Slugger
9. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies: $330 million for 13 years
- After playing with the Nationals his entire career, Harper left for the team’s rival Phillies in 2019. His 13-year contract is the longest ever given to a free agent, and at the time it was signed, the contract was the largest in MLB. history.
- Stats after the deal (2019): .285/.391/.533/, 152 HRs, 455 RBIs, 149 OPS+
- Highlights since extension: 2021 NL MVP2022 NLCS MVPTwo-time All-StarThree-time Silver Slugger
- 2021 NL MVP
- 2022 NLCS MVP
- Two-time All-Star
- Three-time Silver Slugger
T-10. Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins/New York Yankees: $325 million over 13 years:
- In 2014, Stanton used his power to sign the richest contract in MLB history. That deal expires after the 2027 season. Stanton was traded to the Yankees just three seasons after signing a monster extension.
- Stat line after extension (2015): .249/.334/.516/, 275 HRs, 704 RBIs, 131 OPS+
- Highlights from the stretch: Three-time All-Star2017 MVP2022 All-Star Game MVP2017 Silver Slugger
- A three-time All-Star
- 2017 MVP
- 2022 All-Star Game MVP
- 2017 Silver Slugger
T-10. Corey Seager, Texas Rangers: $325 million over 10 years
- Seager had become a playoff hero even before signing with the Rangers before the 2022 season. The shortstop’s deal, which now looks like a good fit for him, expires in 2031 when he turns 37.
- Post-deal stat line (2022): .280/.350/.524, 96 HRs, 253 RBIs, 143 OPS+
- Highlights from expansion: Three-time All-Star2023 World Series MVP2023 MVP wins 2023 Silver Slugger
- A three-time All-Star
- 2023 World Series MVP
- 2023 MVP runner-up
- 2023 Silver Slugger
T-10. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers: $325 million over 12 years
- Yamamoto signed the largest contract of any pitcher in MLB history, slightly surpassing Gerrit Cole’s nine-year, $324 million deal with the Yankees.
- At the age of 25, he was sent by the Orix Buffaloes last winter following one of the highlights in Japanese baseball history. He was a three-time Pacific League Most Valuable Player and has a lifetime ERA of 1.82.
- Line figures after the deal (2024): 7-2, 90 IP, 3.00 ERA, 105 K, 1.111 WHIP
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