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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Aug 30, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Alfonso Soriano (12) hits a two run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the fourth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Alfonso Soriano (12) hits a two run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the fourth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

26. Alfonso Soriano, $157,960,000

While Soriano was a very valuable player from 2002-2007, his lifetime earnings skyrocketed thanks to one of the worst deals in Chicago Cubs history.

Following a stint in Japan to begin his career, Soriano debuted with the Yankees in 1999 and put up three forgettable seasons before taking off in 2002 with a 5.6 WAR campaign. The star second baseman was terrific again in 2003 and became the centerpiece of the deal with the Texas Rangers that sent Alex Rodriguez to New York.

After two decent if uninspiring seasons in Texas, Soriano was shipped to the Washington Nationals and became the fourth player in MLB history with 40 homer runs and 40 stolen bases while earning just $8 million in arbitration in 2006. Soriano then rejected a five-year, $70 million contract from Washington to become one of the most sought-after free agents in the Majors.

Chicago gave Soriano the biggest contract in club history with a eight-year, $136 million deal that lasted through 2014. Soriano got off to an outstanding start with 6.7 WAR in his debut season with the Cubs, but was limited by injuries for the rest of the contract and only amassed  13.1 WAR over the next seven years.

A second stint with the Yankees in the second half of 2013 and 2014 failed, and the deal hurt the Cubs for a number of years despite Soriano finishing with an impressive 412 home runs and 289 steals for his career.

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