Active MLB Record-Breaking Contracts

It's always big news when a player signs the largest contract in a sport's history. However, it seems that once a larger contract is signed, the former record-holders are largely forgotten, and people start to wonder when the next record-breaking deal will be signed. However, these long-term contracts still endure, long after they have been surpassed by other deals. In fact, the four most recent record-breaking contracts in MLB are still being played out. 

On December 11, 2024, rightfielder Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, which runs through 2039. This deal is currently the largest in professional sports history. In his first season as a Met, Soto hit 43 home runs and led the National League in stolen bases (38), walks (127), and on-base percentage (.396) en route to a third-place finish in the MVP Award voting. 

A year earlier, on December 11, 2023, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani agreed to a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, at the time the largest deal in professional sports history, since surpassed by Soto's and Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo's. Since signing the deal, Ohtani has won two MVP Awards (topping 50 homers each season) and is on his way to a third in 2026. 

On March 20, 2019, Angels centerfielder Mike Trout inked a 12-year, $426 million extension with the club through the 2031 season. Trout immediately made his good on the deal by winning his third career MVP Award in 2019. 

Way back on November 17, 2014, Giancarlo Stanton signed a 13-year, $325 million extension with the Miami Marlins. At the time of the signing, it was the largest contract in the history of sports, but has now been met or surpassed by 20 others, including 11 in baseball. Stanton was traded to the New York Yankees after his 2017 MVP season and continues to play out his contract, which runs through 2027.