# The twenty most expensive contracts in MLB history?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-twenty-most-expensive-contracts-in-mlb-history/653306
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [March 18, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-twenty-most-expensive-contracts-in-mlb-history/653306 "2013-03-18T22:19:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-twenty-most-expensive-contracts-in-mlb-history/653306/1 "2013-03-18T22:19:14Z")
What are they? Is there a database that lists contracts by total dollar amount that the team is committing to paying?
We could list them anecdotally, of course, and I’ll take it if that’s all you can offer, but I’d like to find an actual list.
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### Author:  [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-twenty-most-expensive-contracts-in-mlb-history/653306/2 "2013-03-18T22:27:20Z")
Go to Wikipedia, and put in “largest sports contracts”. Pick out the baseball ones.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-twenty-most-expensive-contracts-in-mlb-history/653306/3 "2013-03-18T23:47:18Z")
> [@etv78](#):
>
> Go to Wikipedia, and put in “largest sports contracts”. Pick out the baseball ones.
Pretty easy. Twenty of the top 25 are baseball.
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### Author:  [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-twenty-most-expensive-contracts-in-mlb-history/653306/4 "2013-03-18T23:57:09Z")
That article is described as “outdated.”
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-twenty-most-expensive-contracts-in-mlb-history/653306/5 "2013-03-19T01:08:40Z")
This list appears accurate up to just before Josh Hamilton’s contract, which is not among the top full value contracts but should be third in per year salary. (It includes Zack Greinke’s, and so was updated at some point this offseason.)
> **[History & Major Milestones](https://www.liveabout.com/baseball-history-4688115)**
>
> Take a look back at the origins of America's favorite sport from the beginnings of Major League Baseball to members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, influential historical figures in coaching, eras, and all-time best teams.
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### Author:  [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)
#### Post date: [March 19, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-twenty-most-expensive-contracts-in-mlb-history/653306/6 "2013-03-19T02:51:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> This list appears accurate up to just before Josh Hamilton’s contract, which is not among the top full value contracts but should be third in per year salary. (It includes Zack Greinke’s, and so was updated at some point this offseason.)
>
> [History & Major Milestones](http://baseball.about.com/od/majorleagueplayers/a/topsalaries.htm)
OK, that list makes it official. Alex Rodriguez is the most overpaid person in the history of Western Civilization.