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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August 13, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Derek Jeter is introduced as the New York Yankees honor the 1996 World Series team at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Munson-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
August 13, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Derek Jeter is introduced as the New York Yankees honor the 1996 World Series team at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Munson-Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /

2. Derek Jeter, $265,159,364

One of the most beloved Yankees in history never came seriously close to reaching free agency, as New York was willing to dish out over $265 million to keep Jeter in pinstripes.

The sixth overall pick in the 1992 draft took a few years to develop, but was eventually considered a top prospect upon his debut in 1995. By 1998, Jeter was a star for a dominant Yankees team, and put up 6.2 WAR to finish third in the MVP voting.

After earning $10 million in arbitration in 2000, the Yankees decided to lock Jeter up for the long-term the next February. New York signed Jeter to a 10-year, $189 million contract to make him the second highest-paid player in baseball.

Jeter was worth at least 4.0 WAR in seven different seasons over the course of the contract and was named to the All-Star game eight times to earn a $51 million extension from 2011-2013. While Jeter was quickly declining at age 39, the Yankees gave him another $12 million for his final season.

With 3,465 career hits, 71.8 WAR and five World Series rings, Jeter was well worth the price tag for the Yankees.

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