Largest MLB Contracts by Total Value
The most expensive baseball contract in terms of total guaranteed money is the 13-year, $365 million deal signed by Shohei Ohtani with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023. The contract includes a $68 million signing bonus and a full no-trade clause, making it the largest financial commitment in MLB history. The deal was structured to reflect Ohtani's unique two-way player status, with deferred compensation paid out through 2042, reducing the Dodgers' immediate luxury-tax burden. The average annual value of $28.08 million set a new benchmark for player compensation in North American professional sports. For context, the previous largest contract was the 12-year, $330 million deal signed by Bryce Harper with the Philadelphia Phillies in March 2019. The MLB Players Association confirmed the terms of the Ohtani deal through its official channels, and the contract details were reported by major sports and financial outlets. Forbes reported the full terms and financial structure of the Ohtani contract.
The second-largest contract by total value is the 12-year, $330 million deal signed by Bryce Harper with the Philadelphia Phillies in March 2019. The contract includes a $10 million signing bonus and a full no-trade clause, with an average annual value of $27.5 million. The deal was announced on March 3, 2019, and was widely viewed as a landmark in free-agency spending for the Phillies franchise. The contract was structured with a full no-trade clause, giving Harper control over his destination for the length of the deal. The Phillies front office stated that the contract was designed to build a long-term core around Harper, and the deal was reported by multiple trusted sports outlets at the time of signing. MLB Trade Rumors covered the Harper-Phillies deal details.
Highest Average Annual Value in MLB History
The highest average annual value in MLB history belongs to Shohei Ohtani's 13-year, $365 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which averages $28.08 million per year. The deal was officially announced on December 11, 2023, and includes a $68 million signing bonus. The average annual value surpasses the previous record held by Mookie Betts, whose 12-year, $365 million contract with the Dodgers, signed in December 2020, averages $30.42 million per year. The Ohtani deal is unique because the deferred compensation structure allows the Dodgers to spread payments beyond the active playing years. The contract's total value and annual average were confirmed by the Dodgers and reported by multiple financial and sports outlets. ESPN detailed the Ohtani contract structure and average annual value.
The second-highest average annual value belongs to Mookie Betts, whose 12-year, $365 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers averages $30.42 million per year. The deal was signed on December 1, 2020, and includes a $20 million signing bonus. Betts' contract was the largest in MLB history by average annual value at the time of signing, and it remains among the