Troy Tulowitzki, Albert Pujols and The 10 Biggest Contract Extensions In History
In the spirit of the massive multi-million dollar contracts MLB teams are handing out this offseason, let's take a look at the 10 largest contract extensions in history.
Just a heads-up: the list includes a couple of enormous Yankee contracts. But above all else, the names are notable, the numbers are jaw-dropping and the extensions are legendary.
No. 10: Matt Holliday
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In 2010 the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder signed an extension to remain with the team 2016. The deal is currently worth seven years and $120 million.
No. 9: Ryan Howard
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Philadelphia's Ryan Howard signed a contract extension with the Phillies in 2010 that will keep him in red pinstripes until at least 2017. The contract is for five years and an estimated $125 million.
No. 8: Johan Santana
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Johan Santana was traded to the New York Mets during the 2007-2008 offseason and signed an extension with the team in 2008 worth six years and $137.5 million.
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No. 7: Todd Helton
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The Rockies first baseman signed an extension way back in 2001. The deal was for nine years and $141.5 million. It was the largest in Colorado Rockies at the time.
No. 6: Miguel Cabrera
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The Detroit Tigers first baseman signed a monster extension in 2008 to remain with the team through 2015. The deal was for eight years and $153 million.
No. 5: Troy Tulowitzki
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The shortstop was rewarded for a spectacular season in 2010 with a humongous extension in the offseason for 10 years and worth close to $158 million.
The deal surpassed Todd Helton's for the largest in Rockies history.
No. 4: Joe Mauer
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The Twins MVP-caliber catcher signed one of baseball's largest contract extensions in 2010. The deal has Mauer in Minnesota until 2018, covering eight seasons and paying him an estimated $184 million.
No. 3: Derek Jeter
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Derek Jeter's extension with the New York Yankees back in 2001 was a truly eye-popping deal. The extension would keep Jeter in the big apple for 10 seasons and pay him $189 million for his troubles.
No. 2: Albert Pujols
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No. 2 is a little bit imaginative. Pujols and the Cardinals are expecting an extension very soon, but it hasn't happened yet. So we will base Pujols' extension on what experts are predicting for the stud first baseman.
According to Paul White of USA Today, the predictions average out somewhere in the ballpark of eight years and $210 million, putting him second on the all-time list.
No. 1: Alex Rodriguez
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No surprise here. A-Rod's 2008 extension with the New York Yankees is the largest contract extension in sports history, let alone Major League Baseball.
Rodriguez signed a 10-year deal worth an incredible $275 million. The deal keeps A-Rod in New York through 2017 and makes him a very wealth man.
Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.
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