In the last year, five franchise contract records were toppled. How many will fall this offseason, with nine potential $100MM free agents? Here’s our list of the largest contracts for each of the 30 teams. If you’d like a trip down memory lane, each contract is linked to its MLBTR post, with the exception of those that predate the site’s existence.
- Angels: Albert Pujols – 10 years, $240MM (plus personal services contract valued at $6,841,811). Signed 12-8-11.
- Astros: Carlos Lee – 6 years, $100MM. Signed 11-24-06.
- Athletics: Eric Chavez – 6 years, $66MM. Signed 3-18-04.
- Blue Jays: Vernon Wells – 7 years, $126MM. Signed 12-18-06.
- Braves: Freddie Freeman – 8 years, $135MM. Signed 2-4-14.
- Brewers: Ryan Braun – 5 years, $105MM. Signed 4-21-11.
- Cardinals: Matt Holliday – 7 years, $120MM. Signed 1-7-10.
- Cubs: Jon Lester – 6 years, $155MM. Signed 12-13-14.
- Diamondbacks: Yasmany Tomas – 6 years, $68.5MM. Signed 11-26-14.
- Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw – 7 years, $215MM. Signed 1-17-14.
- Giants: Buster Posey – 9 years, $167MM (replaced existing 1 year, $8MM deal). Signed 3-29-13.
- Indians: Travis Hafner – 4 years, $57MM. Signed 7-11-07.
- Mariners: Robinson Cano – 10 years, $240MM. Signed 12-12-13.
- Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton – 13 years, $325MM. Signed 11-18-14.
- Mets: Juan Soto – 15 years, $765MM. Signed 12-8-24.
- Nationals: Max Scherzer – 7 years, $210MM (present-day value of $191.4MM at time of signing). Signed 1-21-15.
- Orioles: Adam Jones – 6 years, $85.5MM. Signed 5-25-12.
- Padres: James Shields – 4 years, $75MM. Signed 2-11-15.
- Phillies: Cole Hamels – 6 years, $144MM. Signed 7-25-12.
- Pirates: Jason Kendall – 6 years, $60MM. Signed 11-18-00.
- Rangers: Alex Rodriguez – 10 years, $252MM. Signed 12-12-00.
- Rays: Evan Longoria – 6 years, $100MM (team also exercised three club options from previous contract, which had a total value of $30MM). Signed 11-26-12.
- Red Sox: Manny Ramirez – 8 years, $160MM. Signed 12-13-00.
- Reds: Joey Votto – 10 years, $225MM. Signed 4-2-12.
- Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki – 10 years, $157.75MM (replaced three final years and option from previous contract). Signed 11-30-10.
- Royals: Gil Meche and Mike Sweeney – 5 years, $55MM. Meche signed 12-7-06 and Sweeney signed 3-29-02.
- Tigers: Miguel Cabrera – 8 years, $248MM. Signed 3-31-14.
- Twins: Joe Mauer – 8 years, $184MM. Signed 3-21-10.
- White Sox: Jose Abreu – 6 years, $68MM. Signed 10-29-13.
- Yankees: Alex Rodriguez – 10 years, $275MM. Signed 12-13-07.
a lot of stinkers in there
What I was thinking.. Wells, then saw Gil Meche.. Shame Sox’s Carl Crawford couldn’t get named as an honorable mention or something.
As a Royals fan Hil Meche was worth every penny.
one BOONDOGGLE after another… lol!
A lot of awful contracts.
Didn’t Gil Meche retire with a year or so left, leaving a lot of money on the table because he was injured? Always seemed like a classy move to me, even though it’s probably not what I would have done.
Believe so. Wayne Garland did the same thing for Cleveland back in early 80’s after he blew out his rotor cuff in 2nd year of his 10y 2m deal. Back then? That was astronomical figure. he retired after year 5, leaving half the money on the table.
Was anyone else stunned to see the names of Travis Hafner and Jason Kendall included here?
I bet some whiz kid could tell us which contract offered the best value with some sort of WAR/yr/$ equation. My money would be on the Manny Ramirez deal. Obviously most of these haven’t been finished yet, but it would be interesting.
You wouldn’t need a whiz kid… just an hour and a net connection. What you’re describing is a basic ratio.
You would need a whiz kid to adjust for inflation (the oldest contract was signed in 2000, the most recent in 2015).
Who would have thought that deal would turn out so great? Remember after year 4, or maybe it was year 3? Ramirez was doing his mope job, wanting to move and Epstein told him he’d put him on waivers, but nobody would claim the contract? Even him for free, just pay the rest and Ramirez was still one of the best hitters in the game.
The guy could still hit for the entire term and perform, 8 years. Rare for a LT deal like that to pay off both ways.
I believe you are incorrect about the Indians’ most expensive player. Didn’t they sign Nick Swisher to something like a 6 or 7 year deal worth in the neighborhood of 100 mil?
That deal was for $56MM.
So I see now…I’d forgotten that they got what the industry considered a bargain in that deal because he waited until late in the off-season…and it STILL turned out to be a terrible deal. LOL
Seems like the Royals might be a decent bet to break their franchise mark. The bar isn’t very high, and they’ll have some money coming off the books by non-tendering Holland, declining Rios’s option, and (likely) losing Alex Gordon to free agency. They’ll also have some cash to spend from another post-season run, and some holes to fill in the OF and rotation.
If they do break it, it will probably be Alex Gordon. Otherwise, they will bargain around again. Although I still consider them dark horses for Zack Greinke. He loved it in KC and like you said they will have some playoff money to play with.