KEVIN BROWN – $15M/YR FOR 7 YEARS

by Peter Lemieux | Apr 9, 2022 | Leaderboard

In 1999, the Dodgers signed highly successful pitcher Kevin Brown to a 7-year contract making him the first $100 million man in baseball. His contract included a clause allowing him to fly in a private plane to games. Enrique Rojas of ESPN called the contract “one of...

MIKE HAMPTON – $15.1M/YR FOR 8 YEARS

by Peter Lemieux | Apr 9, 2022 | Leaderboard

The Colorado Rockies signed Mike Hampton to a 6 year $80 million contract. At the time, it was the highest contract in baseball history. Colorado was a location that pitchers did not do well. Hampton just finished two seasons where he won 22 and 15 games with ERAs of...

ADAM DUNN – $14M/YR FOR 4 YEARS

by Peter Lemieux | Apr 9, 2022 | Leaderboard

The White Sox signed Adam Dunn to a 4 year $56 million contract. This ended up being a total disaster for the White Sox. The four batting averages for the years never topped .220. The strikeouts were a staggering 702 in 4 years.. The home runs also dropped...

BARRY ZITO – $18M/YR FOR 7 YEARS

by Peter Lemieux | Apr 9, 2022 | Leaderboard

With an excellent, seven-year resume at the young age of 29, Barry Zito signed the largest contract for a pitcher to date. The San Francisco Giants paid him $126 million over seven years. Mysteriously, Zito never had a single season with the Giants with an ERA under...

RYAN BRAUN – $21M/YR FOR 5 YEARS

by Peter Lemieux | Apr 9, 2022 | Leaderboard

Based on his 2015 results and prior excellent performance the Brewers rewarded Ryan Braun with a 5-year, $105 million contract. The most money he had made in a year was prior to this was $13 million in 2015. Now he was guaranteed over $20 million a year for 5 seasons....