Major League Baseball teams have committed to massive contracts in recent years, with extensions and free-agent deals setting franchise records across the league. Standouts include Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 14-year, $500 million extension with the Toronto Blue Jays and Juan Soto's 15-year, $765 million free-agent pact with the New York Mets. These agreements underscore the growing financial stakes in player retention and acquisition.
In a landscape of escalating player salaries, MLB franchises continue to break their own records for the largest contracts. The Toronto Blue Jays lead with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s historic 14-year, $500 million extension signed in April 2025, surpassing the team's previous mark set by Dylan Cease's seven-year, $210 million free-agent deal earlier that year. This agreement ensures Guerrero remains in Toronto through 2038, marking the biggest extension in baseball history.
The New York Mets made waves with Juan Soto's 15-year, $765 million free-agent contract in December 2024, the largest in MLB history by total value. Soto, coming off a strong season with the Yankees, opted for the Mets over other suitors, bolstering their lineup for the long term. Similarly, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million deal in December 2023, which includes significant deferrals but remains a benchmark for two-way stars.
Kansas City Royals committed to Bobby Witt Jr. with an 11-year, $288.7 million extension in February 2024, following his franchise-first 30-30 season. The deal includes a team option that could extend it to 14 years and $377.7 million. In Oakland, the Athletics extended Tyler Soderstrom for seven years and $86 million in December 2025, the largest in team history after his promising debut.
Other notable pacts include Corbin Burnes' six-year, $210 million free-agent signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2024 and Willy Adames' seven-year, $182 million deal with the San Francisco Giants in December 2024. These contracts reflect teams' strategies to lock in young talent amid rising free-agent costs, though smaller-market clubs like the Pittsburgh Pirates top out at Bryan Reynolds' eight-year, $106.75 million extension from 2023. Overall, the trend shows MLB's commitment to competitive balance through long-term investments, even as debates persist over revenue sharing and spending disparities.
