Johan Santana - New York Mets - Baseball - $137,500,000
Johan Santana had one of the biggest and most talked about trade potentials in baseball’s off season. The New York Mets signed him to a 6-year, $137 million dollar contract that would make him the highest paid pitcher in the Major Leagues. And well-deserved when you look at what he can do to an offense. Santana debuted with the Minnesota Twins on April 3, 2000 and came out of the bullpen against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, as they were known then. He got his first major league start against the Kansas City Royals on August 7, 2000.
Santana holds a 3.29 career ERA that teams lovem and opponents are batting just .219 lifetime against him. With masterful control, he might be one of the greatest left handed pitchers to grace the mound in some time.
Todd Helton - Colorado Rockies - Baseball - $151,500,000
Todd Helton, born in Knoxville, Tennessee, holds the second longest contract of this list at 11 years. He originally signed this long term deal in 2001, which was stated as a 9 year extension to his current contract. He also has an option for the 2012 season. Todd has accomplished a number of notable achievements over the years, including 5 time All-Star and a 3 time Gold Glove winner.
Todd was drafted in his junior year in the first round, eighth overall, in the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft by the Colorado Rockies. He was signed in July of the same year. Todd has spent his entire career with the Colorado Rockies and only recently have talks started about trading him away.
Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers - Baseball - $152,300,000
Miguel Cabrera busted on the scene in 2003 in style with the Florida Marlins by hitting a walk off home run in his first major league game on June 20, 2003. He was just 20 years old. His bat was so good that he was very instrumental in the playoffs for the Florida Marlins and was a huge part of them beating the Yankees that year. Miguel would end up on the cover of the ESPN magazine during the off season due to his exceptional statistics which showed no signs of tapering off. In December of 2007, the Marlins agreed on a deal that would send Cabrera and team mate Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers for 6 players. In March of 2008, Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers came to an agreement on his most impressive contract of his still young career. It is an 8 year deal that will take him through the 2015 season.
Kimi Räikkönen - Ferrari - Auto Racing - $153,000,000
2007 saw Ferrari snap up one of the best drivers in Formula One Racing and giving him the second largest contract in racing history. Kimi Räikkönen busted on the scene in 2001 with the Sauber Formula One team and soon enough, he left them for McLaren where he would stay until 2006. During that span he was only able to muster a second place finish twice. The other 3 years saw a 6th place finish in 2002, a 7th place finish in 2004, and a 5th place finish in 2006. Kimi did not see success until 2007 when he moved to Ferrari. He was able to capture a 1st place finish in 2007 and currently is 2nd in 2008. His career was plagued with technical problems which caused 38% of his races to end in retirement.
Fernando Alonzo - McLaren - Auto Racing - $160,000,000
Even though McLaren™ decided to make Fernando the highest paid driver on the Formula One circuit in 2007, Alonzo didn’t stick around for the 4 years of the contract due to an “on again, off again” relationship over the next two years. Alonzo started his F1 career with Minardi in 2001, as the third youngest driver ever to start a Formula One race when he debuted at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix. On August 24, 2003, Alonzo would be the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One race when he took the checkered flag at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix. On December 19, 2005, Alonzo announced that he would be moving to McLaren in 2007 after his contract expired with Renault. In 2008, Alonzo would be back in a Renault owned car.
Manny Ramirez - Boston Redsox - Baseball - $160,000,000
When Manny Ramirez signed this contract, it made him the highest paid Red Sox player of all time.
His strong bat has led him to be one of the most feared power hitters and placing him in the group of 24 sluggers that have hit 500 or more home runs.
Michael Vick - Atlanta Falcons - Football - $167,000,000
Michael Vick had a celebrated career at Virginia Tech prior to be drafted by the Falcons in 2001. He joined Tommy Nobis, Steve Bartkowski, and Aundray Bruce as the Falcons only #1 overall picks in all of club history. Michael’s contract was short lived as he is currently serving a sentence for issues relating to his property in Virginia. His contract was signed in 2005 and extended to 2014. It remains to be seen if he can come back to the Falcons and even if he can, will he still have the effect that he once had.
Derek Jeter - New York Yankees - Baseball - $189,000,000
One of only 2 baseball players with a 10-year contract, Derek Jeter started his career as a Yankee in 1992 as he was drafted 6th overall and has always worn the pinstripes. He has earned himself the name of Mr. Yankee, and is currently listed as the Yankees’ captain. He has also played in 9 All-Star games representing the New York Yankees and ranks in the top ten in the production catergories of hits (second), runs (fourth), and batting average (seventh). Derek signed his new 10-year contract in 2001. It currently runs through 2011.
Alex Rodriguez - Texas Rangers - Baseball - $252,000,000
Alex received his first major contract in Texas when he became a free agent after the 2000 season was over. The Texas Rangers needed someone to build their team around after hitting rock bottom, and Alex seemed like the perfect player for the job. Unfortunately, however, A-Rod did not seem to be working for Texas as in 2001 and 2002 they still finished in the cellar of their division. It was time to let Alex go, and Texas did exactly that, right before the start of the 2004 season.
Alex Rodriguez - New York Yankees - Baseball - $275,000,000
One of only 2 baseball players with a 10 year contract, Alex was originally traded to the Yankees on February 15, 2004 to replace a void created when then third baseman Aaron Boone injured his knee in a pick-up game of basketball. This injury put him out for the entire year. Furthermore, Texas had already been looking for a place to dump Alex and his enormous salary and this was just the opening that they had wanted. The re-signing of Rodriquez was strange to say the least as he would be opting out of his $252 million dollar 10-year contract. Lucky for him, the New York Yankees picked him up soon after, and signed him to a new 10-year contract worth $275 million.
Johan Santana had one of the biggest and most talked about trade potentials in baseball’s off season. The New York Mets signed him to a 6-year, $137 million dollar contract that would make him the highest paid pitcher in the Major Leagues. And well-deserved when you look at what he can do to an offense. Santana debuted with the Minnesota Twins on April 3, 2000 and came out of the bullpen against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, as they were known then. He got his first major league start against the Kansas City Royals on August 7, 2000.
Santana holds a 3.29 career ERA that teams lovem and opponents are batting just .219 lifetime against him. With masterful control, he might be one of the greatest left handed pitchers to grace the mound in some time.
Todd Helton - Colorado Rockies - Baseball - $151,500,000
Todd Helton, born in Knoxville, Tennessee, holds the second longest contract of this list at 11 years. He originally signed this long term deal in 2001, which was stated as a 9 year extension to his current contract. He also has an option for the 2012 season. Todd has accomplished a number of notable achievements over the years, including 5 time All-Star and a 3 time Gold Glove winner.
Todd was drafted in his junior year in the first round, eighth overall, in the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft by the Colorado Rockies. He was signed in July of the same year. Todd has spent his entire career with the Colorado Rockies and only recently have talks started about trading him away.
Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers - Baseball - $152,300,000
Miguel Cabrera busted on the scene in 2003 in style with the Florida Marlins by hitting a walk off home run in his first major league game on June 20, 2003. He was just 20 years old. His bat was so good that he was very instrumental in the playoffs for the Florida Marlins and was a huge part of them beating the Yankees that year. Miguel would end up on the cover of the ESPN magazine during the off season due to his exceptional statistics which showed no signs of tapering off. In December of 2007, the Marlins agreed on a deal that would send Cabrera and team mate Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers for 6 players. In March of 2008, Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers came to an agreement on his most impressive contract of his still young career. It is an 8 year deal that will take him through the 2015 season.
Kimi Räikkönen - Ferrari - Auto Racing - $153,000,000
2007 saw Ferrari snap up one of the best drivers in Formula One Racing and giving him the second largest contract in racing history. Kimi Räikkönen busted on the scene in 2001 with the Sauber Formula One team and soon enough, he left them for McLaren where he would stay until 2006. During that span he was only able to muster a second place finish twice. The other 3 years saw a 6th place finish in 2002, a 7th place finish in 2004, and a 5th place finish in 2006. Kimi did not see success until 2007 when he moved to Ferrari. He was able to capture a 1st place finish in 2007 and currently is 2nd in 2008. His career was plagued with technical problems which caused 38% of his races to end in retirement.
Fernando Alonzo - McLaren - Auto Racing - $160,000,000
Even though McLaren™ decided to make Fernando the highest paid driver on the Formula One circuit in 2007, Alonzo didn’t stick around for the 4 years of the contract due to an “on again, off again” relationship over the next two years. Alonzo started his F1 career with Minardi in 2001, as the third youngest driver ever to start a Formula One race when he debuted at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix. On August 24, 2003, Alonzo would be the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One race when he took the checkered flag at the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix. On December 19, 2005, Alonzo announced that he would be moving to McLaren in 2007 after his contract expired with Renault. In 2008, Alonzo would be back in a Renault owned car.
Manny Ramirez - Boston Redsox - Baseball - $160,000,000
When Manny Ramirez signed this contract, it made him the highest paid Red Sox player of all time.
His strong bat has led him to be one of the most feared power hitters and placing him in the group of 24 sluggers that have hit 500 or more home runs.
Michael Vick - Atlanta Falcons - Football - $167,000,000
Michael Vick had a celebrated career at Virginia Tech prior to be drafted by the Falcons in 2001. He joined Tommy Nobis, Steve Bartkowski, and Aundray Bruce as the Falcons only #1 overall picks in all of club history. Michael’s contract was short lived as he is currently serving a sentence for issues relating to his property in Virginia. His contract was signed in 2005 and extended to 2014. It remains to be seen if he can come back to the Falcons and even if he can, will he still have the effect that he once had.Derek Jeter - New York Yankees - Baseball - $189,000,000
One of only 2 baseball players with a 10-year contract, Derek Jeter started his career as a Yankee in 1992 as he was drafted 6th overall and has always worn the pinstripes. He has earned himself the name of Mr. Yankee, and is currently listed as the Yankees’ captain. He has also played in 9 All-Star games representing the New York Yankees and ranks in the top ten in the production catergories of hits (second), runs (fourth), and batting average (seventh). Derek signed his new 10-year contract in 2001. It currently runs through 2011.
Alex Rodriguez - Texas Rangers - Baseball - $252,000,000
Alex received his first major contract in Texas when he became a free agent after the 2000 season was over. The Texas Rangers needed someone to build their team around after hitting rock bottom, and Alex seemed like the perfect player for the job. Unfortunately, however, A-Rod did not seem to be working for Texas as in 2001 and 2002 they still finished in the cellar of their division. It was time to let Alex go, and Texas did exactly that, right before the start of the 2004 season.
Alex Rodriguez - New York Yankees - Baseball - $275,000,000
One of only 2 baseball players with a 10 year contract, Alex was originally traded to the Yankees on February 15, 2004 to replace a void created when then third baseman Aaron Boone injured his knee in a pick-up game of basketball. This injury put him out for the entire year. Furthermore, Texas had already been looking for a place to dump Alex and his enormous salary and this was just the opening that they had wanted. The re-signing of Rodriquez was strange to say the least as he would be opting out of his $252 million dollar 10-year contract. Lucky for him, the New York Yankees picked him up soon after, and signed him to a new 10-year contract worth $275 million.
