The Top 10 Most Lucrative Contracts in American Sports
Some of baseball's biggest stars are inking massive contracts this offseason, with superstar free agent Bryce Harper taking home the biggest deal. After waiting all offseason and through the start of spring training, Harper and the Phillies reportedly agreed to an astounding 13-year, $330 million deal on Thursday.
Recently, Manny Machado signed a monster 10-year, $300 million contract with the Padres and Nolan Arenado locked down an eight-year, $260 million extension with the Rockies.
While Harper and Machado's contracts are certainly historic, they're not the first megadeals to be signed. Both players join several other sports stars as some of America's highest-paid athletes (and that doesn't include endorsement deals).
Take a look at the world's top-10 highest-paid American athletes by contract:
1) Mike Trout: $430 million
Trout is finalizing a 12-year, $430 million extension with the Angels before the 2019 season begins.
2) Bryce Harper: $330 million
Harper, 26, reportedly agreed to a record-breaking 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies. It reportedly includes no opt-outs and a full no-trade clause, meaning Harper will play in Philadelphia until 2032. The 2015 NL MVP becomes the highest-paid MLB player by total value. However, Harper's average annual value of $25.4 million is lower than Machado's ($30 million) since his contract is three years longer.
3) Giancarlo Stanton: $325 million
Stanton signed a 13-year, $325 million contract with the Miami Marlins in 2014–most of which was reportedly picked up by the Yankees when they traded for the Marlins star in 2017.
4) Manny Machado: $300 million
The Padres inked Machado to a 10-year deal, $300 million deal this offseason. Before Harper's deal with the Phillies, Machado held the spot for the highest-paid free agent.
5) Alex Rodriguez: $275 million
Alex Rodriguez signed a 10-year contract with the Yankees in 2008 after opting out of his Rangers deal. His deal with New York was worth a whopping $275 million.
6) Nolan Arenado: $260 million
The Rockies agreed to a massive eight-year extension with Arenado that was reported to be worth $260 million. The deal reportedly includes an opt-out after three years and a full no-trade clause.
7) Alex Rodriguez: $252 million
Rodriguez's prior contract was with the Texas Rangers was worth $252 million. A-Rod signed the 10-year deal in 2000, four years before he was traded to the Yankees in February 2004.
8) Miguel Cabrera: $248 million
The Tiger's first baseman signed an eight-year extension with Detroit worth $248 million before the 2014–on top of his existing contract.
9) TIE–Robinson Cano and Albert Pujols: $240 million
The Seattle Mariner's signed second baseman Robinson Cano to a 10-year, $240 million deal that runs from 2014 to 2023. Los Angeles' Albert Pujols signed his own 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels which runs from 2012 to 2021.
10) James Harden: $228 million
The Rockets signed their star guard to a four-year, $228 million extension in 2017 that will keep Harden in Houston through 2023. Harden's deal stands as the biggest contract extension in NBA history.
