Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani has signed a 10-year pact worth $700 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a decision that comes after he had intentionally kept his free-agent process to himself. That deal is, as the headline suggests, the new higher water mark in Major League Baseball history, surpassing former Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout, who held the record for several years at $426 million.
Less than two weeks later, the Dodgers signed starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a 12-year, $325 million deal, setting the new standard for starting pitchers and blowing away the record for an NPB player posted to MLB.
Earlier this summer, before it became known that Ohtani would require an elbow operation that would prevent him from pitching during the 2024 season, several front-office sources estimated that he would clear the $500 million mark this winter. Clearly that proved to be too conservative.
Nevertheless, CBS Sports has decided to compile the 10 biggest contracts in MLB history, as determined by their total value. This one actually goes to 11, as we have a three-way tie for ninth place.
Below, you’ll find the player’s name, position, their signing team (not their current team), and both the dollar amount and the duration of the contract. (Do note that you can find a more comprehensive list over at Cot’s Contracts.)
Got it? Good. Now, onto the reason you clicked.
Biggest contracts in MLB history (by total value)
Ohtani knocked New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole out of the top 10. Yamamoto then topped Cole to bump the Yankees’ Cy Young winner down to 12th. Cole’s $324 million pact is now the second-largest among pitchers in league history behind Yamamoto.
Trea Turner and Rafael Devers have also inked contracts worth at least $300 million and do not crack the top 10 list.
