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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Jul 20, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton (17) hits an RBI single during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 20, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton (17) hits an RBI single during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

23. Todd Helton, $161,490,000

Colorado decided to make Helton its franchise centerpiece early on in his career, helping the five-time All-Star keep a position among MLB’s highest earners.

Helton earned the starting quarterback job at Tennessee as a junior, but his football career would quickly fizzle out after being passed by one Peyton Manning on the depth chart. Fortunately, the two-sport star had baseball to fall back on, as Helton set a number of school records before being selected eighth overall in the 1995 MLB Draft.

Following a quick rise through the Rockies system, Helton made his debut in August of 1997 and quickly became a force at the plate. Helton finished second in the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year voting, and went up to pile up a combined 15.4 WAR between 2000 and 2001.

The Rockies didn’t wait around for Helton to test free agency, and signed him to a huge nine-year, $141.5 contract extension the following spring with two seasons remaining on his deal. Helton posted a 120 wRC+ in eight of the nine seasons on the contract, becoming the most beloved player in franchise history in the process.

That contract was enough to get Helton near the top 30 on its own, and the Rockies tacked on an additional $9.9 million deal over two years leading up to his retirement in 2013.

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