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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Mets, Francisco Lindor
CINCINNATI, OHIO – JULY 06: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets bats in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 06, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

5. MLB contracts: Francisco Lindor, NYM – $341M/10 years

Francisco Lindor, 29, is entering the second season of his 10-year, $341M extension with the New York Mets.

With one of the most expensive MLB contracts in history, signed prior to the 2021 season before he played a game for the Mets, Lindor is slated to be in New York through his age-37 season.

If the first season under the deal is any indication, Lindor is making good on the most expensive contract ever given to a shortstop.

Lindor was an everyday presence in the lineup last season and helped the Mets to a 101-61 record and tie the Atlanta Braves at the top of the NL East. Hitting at the top of the order, usually in the three-hole, he played 161 games and slashed .270/.339/.449. He contributed 98 runs, 107 RBI, 26 homers, 16 steals and finished with a 6.8 fWAR.

He’s still a top-end player, but for Lindor to continue living up to the contract, which still remains the biggest payday for a shortstop, he’ll have to return to and continue playing at an All-Star caliber level. While he was in the MVP discussions last year, finishing ninth in voting, he hasn’t been named to an All-Star squad since he got his fourth nod in 2019 with Cleveland.

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