Fansided

15 most expensive contracts in MLB history and how they turned out

By Michael Fisher

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Fernando Tatis Jr., White Sox
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 22: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park on September 22, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

6. MLB contracts: Fernando Tatis Jr., SDP – $340M/14 years

Fernando Tatis Jr. signed his $340M, 14-year deal with the San Diego Padres in February of 2021 as a 22-year-old and remains the youngest player on our list of the most expensive MLB contracts in history.

Following a successful 2021 campaign, things quickly went off the rails for the budding superstar shortstop.

While the Padres have the 24-year-old under contract through what will be his prime years, the team obviously has some concerns about the youngster’s maturity. And Tatis Jr. hasn’t done himself any favors in his quest to get back on the field and prove that they didn’t make a 14-year-long mistake.

First, there was the wrist injury, and subsequent surgery, from a motorcycle accident (it seems there was more than one) in the offseason. That was followed by the 80-game PED suspension that came down as he neared a return to the field last year. At least he used the time off to have surgery on the shoulder he hurt in 2021.

All of the circumstances around this contract and the distractions Tatis Jr. has caused for the organization have made the deal seem like a liability for the Padres, at least early on. When his suspension ends early in 2023, he’ll have a chance to show his team that they were right to offer him such a large, long-term contract at such a young age.

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