This is the biggest contract on this list that was not signed last year. Stanton signed with the Marlins again over this huge deal, but was traded to the Yankees only two seasons later. This means that the Bronx Bombers take over most of the bill on Stanton. However, if Stanton does not withdraw from his contract after the 2020 season, the Yankees will receive relief from the Marlins` $30 million salary cap. Remember when Machado had the biggest contract of the 2019 MLB offseason? It looks like so long ago. The Padres have struggled powerfully in relative anonymity over the past decade, so signing a star like Machado is a big deal. However, there is a catch: Machado can unsubscribe after five seasons. If he doesn`t like the state of the team right now, the Padres will lose him in vain. In 11 seasons with the St. Louis` Cardinals have reached Pujols on nine all-star teams and won three MVP awards. He also led the league in innings scored five times, hits and base percentage three times each, home runs twice and batting average once. Since signing the Contract with the Angels in 2012, Pujols has formed only one All-Star team in 2015. And the only statistical categories in which he led the league? He has anchored himself in double games, which he has done twice (2014 and 2017).
Pujols has also not hit higher than .285 since joining the Angels. He`s still a future Hall of Famer, but it will be largely based on what he did before signing this contract. In March 2019, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout signed the largest contract in professional sports history worth $426.5 million. Just sixteen months later, despite a virus that has wreaked havoc around the world, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has overtaken Trout. Cabrera`s contract is a little different from some of the others on this list, as it went into effect after passing its peak. In 2014, the Tigers offered their star first baseman an eight-year extension starting in 2016. Cabrera was 33 years old when the transaction began, and he will be in his forties when it ends. Injuries are also a risk – Cabrera spent most of 2017 playing with two herniated discs in his back, playing just 38 games last season due to thigh and bicep injuries. Fun fact: Alex Rodriguez has TWO record contracts on the list below. The first record-breaking contract A-Rod signed in 2000 when he signed a 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers.
One of Alex`s Rangers teammates at the time was Patrick Mahomes Sr., a pitcher. Patrick Jr. would have been about six years old at the time. Imagine telling that six-year-old (and his father) that in almost exactly 20 years, you`ll be signing a contract twice as valuable as A-Rod`s. The 10-year extension includes $477 million in guarantee mechanisms, as well as the possibility for Mahomes to withdraw from the contract if these mechanisms are not exercised. If Muhammad gets the full contract, suffice it to say that he will surpass his father. Although Trout is now officially the highest-paid athlete in the world, he`s not the only one making a lot of money. Let`s take a look at the ten biggest contracts in the history of professional sports.
Note that these deals must be officially cited, so football stars like Lionel Messi will not make the cut, as their official contracts have never been confirmed. We also only look at contracts that were guaranteed – this does not take into account performance or advertising bonuses. As sports contracts continue to grow, it is becoming clearer than ever that an experienced sports lawyer is a necessity to deal with contracts, regardless of level. The value of a contract is likely to affect negotiations on future contracts, which is why sports lawyers exist to protect both players and clubs from unfair contracts. Rodriguez is the only player to appear twice on this list. This agreement in 2000 set the bar for massive MLB contracts. He eventually spent only three years with the Rangers, won the AL MVP award in 2003, but did not reach the playoffs during his time with the team. The Rangers traded Rodriguez to the Yankees before the 2004 season. Four years later, he signed a new (then) record contract to stay in New York. The Kansas City Chiefs have signed their star quarterback for a 10-year contract extension that ties Mahomes to the team through the 2031 season. The New York Yankees caught the free agent pitcher of the time in 2019 on a nine-year contract worth $324 million, according to CNBC.
Cole`s historic contract makes him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history. The three-time star pitcher played four seasons for the Pirates from 2013 to 2017, then two seasons for the Houston Astros from 2018 to 2019. Prior to the 2020 season, Gerrit signed a monster 9-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees. Prior to the 2014 season, Cano signed this contract with the Mariners. He turned down a seven-year, $175 million contract to stay with the Yankees. Cano made three All-Star appearances in five seasons with the Mariners, but was suspended for 80 games last year for using performance-enhancing drugs. The Mariners traded him to the Mets this offseason. Cano quickly hit a home run in his first at-bat with his new team. The contract figures below are presented at face value and do not reflect potential pre- or post-tax treatment. For example, contracts with European sports teams are usually shown on an after-tax basis. Lionel Messi has been a big name in football for years, so it probably won`t be surprising that his contract is the most lucrative. However, when Spanish newspaper El Mundo published the details of his contract with Barcelona, the scope of the contract made headlines.
With a staggering value of €555,237,619 (or €492 million) over four years, this means that the footballer earned around €234 per minute. However, it should be noted that Messi agreed to a pay cut in 2020 due to COVID-19. The sports world was abuzz after the San Diego Padres were able to block Machado for a 10-year, $300 million contract in 2019. The White Sox, Phillies and Yankees were among the teams vying for the third baseman`s attention, but in the end, Machado signed the biggest free agent deal in history at the time with San Diego, according to Sports Illustrated. Until the details of Messi`s huge contract were revealed, Patrick Mahomes` 12-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs was the biggest of all time. Signed in 2020, it`s worth $503 million, which means Mahomes` average payout per game is over $2 million. The contract also provides for a $140 million breach guarantee. So if he had an injury on the first day of his first season that ended his career, he would still earn $140 million. The Colorado Rockies welcomed their third baseman with an eight-year contract worth $260 million in 2019, according to ESPN. The deal included a full no-trade clause and opt-out after Arenado`s 2021 season. The boxer agreed to a five-year, 11-fight, $365 million contract with streaming service DAZN in 2018, according to the Guardian.
Fans in the U.S. and Mexico can stream Álvarez`s fights for $9.99 a month, and as part of the deal, the star athlete could make even more money if he brings a number of new subscribers to the service while he`s on a five-year contract. The third baseman agreed to a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019, which included a full no-trade clause, according to ESPN. Prior to his heavenly contract with the Angels, Rendon spent most of his MLB career with the Washington Nationals. A-Rod decided not to sign his current contract in 2007 to sign a 10-year, $275 million extension with the New York Yankees. The end of Rodriguez`s career was overshadowed by injuries and scandals. And throughout his time, he has been a polarizing figure in New York, especially alongside his hometown hero, Derek Jeter. But Rodriguez collected his only World Series ring during that contract and helped the Yankees beat the Phillies in 2009. .