Countless children around the world look up to their favorite sports icons and dream of becoming professional players themselves one day. Many people envy professional sports players for living the pinnacle of the American Dream, doing what they’re good at, and inspiring thousands–not to mention the impressive salaries that come with the job!
Regardless of whether you dreamed of a sports career when you were a kid, you’re probably wondering just how lucrative professional sports contracts can get. Today we’ll be looking at 10 of the largest sports contracts in the world, as well as learning some fun facts about the highly-skilled players who signed each one.
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Robinson Canó
Contract Length: 10 years
Sport: Baseball
Contract With: Seattle Mariners
Source: wikimedia.org
This highly-regarded Dominican-American second baseman used his prowess to help the New York Yankees earn a World Series Championship in 2009. His contract with the Seattle Mariners began in 2014, and he’s continued to show promise with an average of over 4 wins per season.
Did You Know?
Unfortunately, Cano tested positive for banned substances in 2018, earning him a suspension of 80 games without pay and voiding his eligibility for the postseason: a financial loss of nearly $12 million dollars.
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Miguel Cabrera
Contract Length: 8 years
Sport: Baseball
Contract With: Detroit Tigers
Source: wikimedia.org
Miguel Cabrera or “Miggy” first began building a reputation for himself at 16 years old when he signed with the Florida Marlins of the National League. His contract detailed the largest annual salary in Major League history at the time of signing, and his average annual salary still remains one of the highest. While Cabrera certainly embraces each opportunity that comes, he also admits to feeling intense pressure to perform well.
Did You Know?
Cabrera got caught up in a domestic disturbance controversy in 2009, and the resulting stress had a marked effect on his performance.
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Nolan Arenado
Contract Length: 8 years
Sport: Baseball
Contract With: Colorado Rockies
Source: flickr.com
Nolan Arenado, third baseman for the Colorado Rockies, now has a contract that breaks the record for current position players’ annual salary. This contract is actually an 8-year extension of Arenado’s long-standing history with the Rockies, and reportedly includes an opt-out after three years. Fans who appreciate Arenado as a highly productive player have wasted no time in speculating whether or not he will decide to opt out when the opportunity arises.
Did You Know?
Among other achievements, such as six Gold Glove awards, Arenado was the youngest player in Rockies franchise history to hit 100 home runs.
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Alex Rodriguez
Contract Length: 10 years
Sport: Baseball
Contract With: New York Yankees
Source: wikimedia.org
Nicknamed “A-Rod,” this Dominican-American athlete is said to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He is ranked as the all-time grand slam leader and fourth all-time highest in home runs, as well as having been elected to the All-Star game 14 times. In 2009, Rodriguez admitted to having used performance-enhancing drugs during years past, which called some of his accomplishments into question.
Did You Know?
Rodriguez cited his father as a source of inspiration, saying: “I saw how passionate he was about the game. How closely he paid attention to it. That rubbed off on me.”
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Roger Federer
Contract Length: 10 years
Sport: Tennis
Contract With: Uniqlo
Source: wikimedia.org
This Swiss professional tennis player has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, among numerous other awards, and has now landed a pricey contract with Uniqlo, the leading subsidiary of Japan’s “Fast Retailing” Company. This athlete has also established the Roger Federer Foundation in order to promote sports and education for disadvantaged youth in South Africa.
Did You Know?
Roger Federer married another former professional tennis player, Miroslava Federer, and speaks four different languages fluently: Swiss, German, French, and English.
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Manny Machado
Contract Length: 10 years
Sport: Baseball
Contract With: San Diego Padres
Source: wikimedia.org
Manny Machado made one of the largest free-agent deals in American sports history when he signed with the San Diego Padres in February of 2019. This deal even tops former record-holder Alex Rodriguez’s 2008 10-year contract with the New York Yankees for $275 million, and may yet be increased to an even higher value.
Did You Know?
Manny Machado was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles right after he finished high school in Miami, and played for them for six years.
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Giancarlo Stanton
Contract Length: 13 years
Sport: Baseball
Contract With: Miami Marlins
Source: wikimedia.org
Formerly known as Mike Stanton, this athlete made his debut in 2010 as a member of the Miami Marlins who signed his contract four years later. After the conclusion of the 2017 season, Stanton was traded to the New York Yankees who picked up the remainder of his contract at his approval.
Did You Know?
When parting with the Miami Marlins, Stanton acknowledged that the team wasn’t doing so well, and asked Marlins fans to continue showing their support and not give up.
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Bryce Harper
Contract Length: 13 years
Sport: Baseball
Contract With: Philadelphia Phillies
Source: wikimedia.org
Bryce Harper’s contract was the richest in the history of professional baseball at the time it was made. His contract does not come with any opt-out clauses, but also excludes deferments and details a $50,000 bonus anytime he earns one of the following awards: All-Star, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, or League Championship Series MVP.
Did You Know?
Bryce Harper was only 19 years old when he made his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2012 and became the youngest player to perform in an All-Star Game.
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Canelo Álvarez
Contract Length: 5 years
Sport: Boxing
Contract With: DAZN
Source: wikimedia.org
World champion boxer Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez has signed a deal with DAZN, a sports-focused streaming service company, for 11 fights in five years. His pay-per-view ratings soar in Mexico and the United States, but the fights under contract with DAZN will instead be available only to those who purchase a streaming service.
Did You Know?
HBO recently announced that it would no longer be involved in boxing after 45 years of airing competitions, and DAZN streaming aims to fill the gap that will be left behind.
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Mike Trout
Contract Length: 12 years
Sport: Baseball
Contract With: Los Angeles Angels
Source: wikimedia.org
Mike Trout’s 12-year sports contract is the largest in the world. This contract will have Trout playing for the Los Angeles Angels through the year 2030 with no opt-outs, which has fans delighted. Claims have been made that Mike Trout is the best baseball player in the world, and will go on to be the greatest baseball player who ever lived.
Did You Know?
Trout fans say that the Los Angeles Angels got him at a steal, despite his contract being the largest in professional sports history.