The biggest contracts in North American team sports have reached new heights, with Juan Soto leading the pack with a staggering $765 million deal with the New York Mets. This record-setting contract raises anticipation about how long it will be before another player surpasses this monumental figure.
Baseball players dominate the list of the largest contracts, with Soto becoming the 17th athlete across the four major North American sports leagues to sign a deal worth at least $300 million. Remarkably, 15 of these contracts are within Major League Baseball (MLB). What’s more, every player who has inked a $300 million deal remains active in their respective leagues.
Here’s a detailed look at these extraordinary contracts.
(Note: these figures are sourced from Spotrac.com)
1. Juan Soto: 15 years, $765M, New York Mets
- The contract includes escalators that could elevate its value to over $800 million.
- His average annual value of $51 million ranks him 25th among the four major sports leagues.
2. Shohei Ohtani: 10 years, $700M, Los Angeles Dodgers
- His average annual value of $70 million is the highest among all major sports leagues.
- The contract includes $680 million in deferred payments, starting in 2034, reducing its present-day value to approximately $460.8 million.
3. Patrick Mahomes: 10 years, $450M, Kansas City Chiefs
- Mahomes has restructured his contract multiple times, most recently in 2023, to secure $208.1 million between 2023 and 2026.
4. Mike Trout: 12 years, $426.5M, Los Angeles Angels
- At the time of signing in March 2019, this contract was the largest in North American sports history.
- His average annual value of $35.4 million is tied for eighth-highest in baseball.
5. Mookie Betts: 12 years, $365M, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Betts signed this extension shortly after joining the Dodgers in 2020.
- His average annual value of $30.4 million ranks 16th in the league.
6. Aaron Judge: 9 years, $360M, New York Yankees
- Judge’s deal is the largest in Yankees history, as he turned down more lucrative offers during the 2022-23 offseason.
- His average annual value of $40 million ranks fourth-highest in MLB.
7. Manny Machado: 11 years, $350M, San Diego Padres
- Machado extended his contract in February 2023, four years after initially joining the Padres.
- His average annual value of $31.8 million ranks 14th in the majors.
8. Francisco Lindor: 10 years, $341M, New York Mets
- Lindor agreed to this contract shortly after being traded to the Mets in 2021.
- His average annual value of $34.1 million ranks 10th in MLB.
9. Fernando Tatís Jr.: 14 years, $340M, San Diego Padres
- Tatís signed this deal before the 2021 season, marking it as one of the largest contracts in MLB history at that time.
- His average annual value of $24.3 million ranks 40th in MLB.
10. Bryce Harper: 13 years, $330M, Philadelphia Phillies
- Harper’s contract was the largest in MLB history when signed in March 2019, though it held the record for only a short time.
- His average annual value of $25.4 million ranks 30th in MLB.
T11. Giancarlo Stanton: 13 years, $325M, New York Yankees
- Stanton signed this deal with the Miami Marlins following a standout 2014 season.
- His average annual value of $25 million ranks 33rd in baseball.
T11. Yoshinobu Yamamoto: 12 years, $325M, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Yamamoto’s contract is the largest ever for an MLB pitcher, breaking the previous record by $1 million.
- His average annual value of $27.1 million ranks 20th in MLB.
T11. Corey Seager: 10 years, $325M, Texas Rangers
- Seager’s deal is the largest ever for a shortstop in free agency.
- His average annual value of $32.5 million ranks 12th in MLB.
14. Gerrit Cole: 9 years, $324M, New York Yankees
- Cole’s contract was the largest for an MLB pitcher at the time it was signed in December 2019.
- His average annual value of $36 million was also the highest in MLB at the time, currently ranking seventh.
15. Jayson Tatum: 5 years, $313.9M, Boston Celtics
- Tatum’s extension, signed in July 2024, is the largest contract in NBA history.
- His average annual value of $62.8 million ranks third among all major professional leagues.
16. Rafael Devers: 10 years, $313.5M, Boston Red Sox
- Devers signed this extension in January 2023, marking the largest contract in Red Sox history.
- His average annual value of $31.4 million ranks 15th in MLB.
17. Trea Turner: 11 years, $300M, Philadelphia Phillies
- Turner’s extension made the Phillies the first team to sign two players to $300 million contracts in free agency.
- His average annual value of $27.3 million ranks 17th in MLB.
