Where Manny Machado's Deal with the Padres Ranks Among the Largest MLB Contracts In History
Manny Machado's 10-year, $300 million deal with the Padres is set to become the largest free agent deal in MLB history.
The top ten most lucrative MLB contracts currently features just one other deal over $300 million. Machado's deal will slot in second in terms of total value, behind Giancarlo Stanton's 13-year, $325 million deal.
Here is a list of the ten most valuable MLB contracts, unadjusted for inflation:
Top Ten Most Valuable MLB Free Agent Contracts
1. Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins/New York Yankees) - $325 million, 13 years
Stanton originally signed his extension with the Marlins, but was traded to the Yankees before the 2018 season. Since the move was largely a salary dump, the Yankees will pay the rest of the contract.
2. Manny Machado (San Diego Padres) - $300 million, 10 years
Machado's contract is reported to have an opt-out after year five. It is the largest contract in Padres history and the largest free agent deal in American sports history.
3. Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees) - $275 million, 10 years
Rodriguez's contract with the Yankees set a new record when he signed in 2007, although he did lose a good chunk of it after his 2014 suspension in the Biogenesis scandal.
4. Nolan Arenado (Colorado Rockies) - $255 million, 8 years
Arenado's deal reportedly includes an opt-out after three years and includes the largest per-year salary of any position player in baseball. He will be eligible for free agency again after the 2021 season. The deal also includes a full no-trade clause.
5. Alex Rodriguez (Texas Rangers/New York Yankees) - $252 million, 10 years
Rodriguez's first megadeal with the Texas Rangers was an ill-fated marriage. Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees three years into the deal.
6. Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers) - $248 million, 8 years
Cabrera signed his extension in 2014, but this contract did not start kicking in until 2016 and runs through the 2023 season.
7. Albert Pujols (Los Angeles Angels) - $240 million, 10 years
The Angels signed the Cardinals' slugger in 2012. While the Angels have gotten to celebrate Pujols' career milestones, they haven't recieved much of the production they've wanted from him. Pujols' contract was the same as Robinson Canó's, but Pujols has made another $3 million in incentives since the deal was signed.
8. Robinson Canó (Seattle Mariners/New York Mets) - $240 million, 10 years
Canó's deal with the Mariners was signed in 2014 and takes him through the 2023 season. Like many of these big contracts, the Mariners have already moved on after trading him to the Mets this offseason.
9. Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds) - $225 million, 10 years
Votto's deal runs through 2024 and has a $7 million buyout in the final year.
10. David Price (Boston Red Sox) - $217 million, 7 years
Price has struggled at times with inconsistency and injury with the Red Sox since he signed this deal in 2016. The contract is set to run through 2022.
