Fansided

30 highest career MLB salaries

By Nathaniel Reeves

Aug 12, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) waves to the fans after playing his final game as a Yankee against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) waves to the fans after playing his final game as a Yankee against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
15 of 30
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 4: Torii Hunter #48 of the Minnesota Twins speaks before the game against the Kansas City Royals on October 4, 2015 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Royals defeated the Twins 6-1. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 4: Torii Hunter #48 of the Minnesota Twins speaks before the game against the Kansas City Royals on October 4, 2015 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Royals defeated the Twins 6-1. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

16. Torii Hunter, $171,055,000

One of the main beneficiaries of the Los Angeles Angels’ spending spree over the past decade, Hunter finished his career just outside the top 15.

Hunter came up with the Twins in 1997 and was unable to really get going until the fourth season of his career. In 2002, Hunter was named to his first All-Star game and finished sixth in the MVP voting with a 122 wRC+ and 4.2 WAR.

That helped Hunter receive a four-year deal worth $32 million heading into 2003, and he continued to churn out solid campaigns at the plate with a combined 14 WAR before hitting free agency in 2008. The Twins offered Hunter a $45 million deal during the season, but he rejected it and garnered a five-year, $90 million contract from Los Angeles a few months later.

Hunter had the best stretch of his career at the plate with Los Angeles, culminating in a lifetime-best 5.2 WAR season in 2012 as hit was set to hit free agency once again. Detroit added $26 million to Hunter’s total over two years, and he was able to retire as a member of the Twins in 2015 on a $10.5 million deal at the age of 39.

The question of if Hunter was worth over $170 million is up for debate as defensive metrics don’t like him as much as his nine straight Gold Gloves from 2001-2010 would indicate, but he remains one of the most beloved players in Twins history.

Home/MLB