Perhaps the wildest free agency saga in MLB history has come to an end, as two-way superstar and two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani has agreed to a record-shattering 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
While Ohtani's contract was widely expected to greatly surpass Mike Trout's current MLB record of $426.5 million on his 12-year contract, the deal Ohtani agreed to is also the richest in worldwide professional sports history.
At $700 million, Ohtani's deal surpasses Lionel Messi's $674 million deal with FC Barcelona from 2017-2021 as the largest in sports history.
Ohtani also obliterated the record for the largest contract in North American professional sports history, blowing away the 10-year, $450 million extension Patrick Mahomes signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.
Though there are reported to be significant deferrals in Ohtani's contract with the Dodgers, the $70 million average annual value dwarfs the previous record set by last year's mammoth nine-year, $360 million deal signed by Aaron Judge with the New York Yankees which has an average annual value of $40 million.
With Ohtani now off the free agency market, other signings are expected to follow in close order, with the superstar's exorbitant price tag setting quite the precedent for the remaining free agents.
What are the largest contracts in sports history?
As aforementioned, Ohtani's contract with the Dodgers is the largest in sports history, even with the significant amount that will be deferred until 2034. Along with Ohtani, these contracts are the largest in sports history, specifically team sports:
- Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB): 10 years, $700 million
- Lionel Messi, Barcelona (soccer): four years, $674 million (2017 to '21)
- Cristiano Ronaldo, Al-Nassr (soccer): two-and-a-half years, $536.3 million
- Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (NFL): 10 years, $450 million
- Karim Benzema, Al-Ittihad (soccer): two years, $436 million
- Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (MLB): 12 years, $426.5 million
- Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB): 12 years, $365 million
- Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (MLB): nine years, $360 million
- Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (MLB): 11 years, $350 million
- Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (MLB): 10 years, $341 million
What are the longest deals in MLB history?
MLB
Baseball is known for its lengthy contracts, with Ohtani's 10-year deal the latest example. But is 10 the longest a player has signed for? Here's a look at the top 10 longest deals in MLB history:
1. Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres: 14 years, $340 million
T-2. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies: 13 years, $330 million
T-2. Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins*: 13 years, $325 million
T-2. Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners: 13 years, $209.3 million
T-5. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers: 12 years, $365 million
T-5. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: 12 years, $426.5 million
T-7. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres: 11 years, $350 million
T-7. Trae Turner, Philadelphia Phillies: 11 years, $300 million
T-7. Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres: 11 years, $280 million
T-7. Wander Franco, Tampa Bay Rays: 11 years, $182 million
*Stanton was traded to the Yankees in 2017
What is the longest deal in NHL history?
In the NHL, Ilya Kovalchuk signed a 15-year, $100 million deal with the New Jersey Devils in 2010. But it lasted only three years before he retired from the league and played in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia. He would return to the NHL in 2018.
What is the richest contract in sports history?
Shohei Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers is the richest in sports history. And $680 million of that is set to be deferred until 2034.
What is the richest contract in NBA history?
With baseball, football and soccer dominating the recent categories, where does the NBA stand among lucrative contracts? While some NBA players make significantly more than others in the league, not many come close to the most seen in other professional sports.
The richest contract in NBA history belongs to Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who recently inked an extension worth $303.7 million over five years. It might not be long until Brown's spot on the throne is gone, though.
