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 /
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Apr 18, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) hits a three-run home run to left field against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) hits a three-run home run to left field against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Albert Pujols, $230,040,436

While Pujols current contract might hurt the Angels for a number of years, the future Hall of Famer still will go down as one of the best hitters of the modern era.

Few teams were interested in Pujols coming out of college, and St. Louis selected him in the 13th round of the 1999 MLB draft. Pujols quickly proved nearly everyone wrong with 7.2 WAR as a rookie in 2001 to finish fourth in the MVP voting.

A run of nine straight seasons with at least a 150 wRC+ including three MVP nods followed. Pujols parlayed that into a seven-year, $100 million contract in February 2004, a value he easily lived up to.

Most expected Pujols to re-sign with St. Louis upon hitting free agency in 2012, but the Angels swooped in with a 10-year, $254 million contract, the second-highest in baseball history at the time. Injuries and age have limited Pujols since, although he has mashed at least 28 homers in four seasons with Los Angeles.

Pujols will be 41 years old with over $350 million earned by the end of the contract in 2021, with the Angels hoping he can provide at least some positive value over the next couple of seasons.

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