Ranking MLB's worst contracts: Not all megadeals are worth the cost

Stephen Strasburg retired, Patrick Corbins deal with the Washington Nationals finally expired and Chris Sale roared back to form in a major way.

That means there are changes to the annual rankings of MLBs worst contracts .

With B lack Friday deals in the past and baseballs hot stove on the verge of heating up, risk-averse executives often point to the leagues underwater contracts as justification for trusting internal development or otherwise standing pat with mediocre rosters.

Advertisement Such reasoning can amount to an excuse, of course.

But theres no denying free agency can be a gamble.

Even lesser deals without massive publicity dont work out.

Think Jeimer Candelario in Cincinnati or Mitch Haniger in San Francisco and now Seattle.

In the case of Pittsburghs KeBryan Hayes , even the en vogue pre-arbitration extension isnt looking like a wise investment for a notoriously penny-pinching ownership.

Elsewhere, big-money deals to shortstops like Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson are fine for now, but hints of injuries or regression leave room for serious concern about the future.

Some deals, however, are already outright flops with higher salaries and much higher stakes.

Those stand alone as the worst contracts in the league.

10.

Nick Castellanos , Philadelphia Phillies Original deal: Five years, $100 million Remaining years: 2025: $20 million 2026: $20 million Castellanos was fresh off the best season of his career when the Phillies signed him in March 2022.

In the three years since, Castellanos time with the Phillies has provided doses of nearly every emotion.

Frustrations have been offset by heroic moments, colorful quotes and charming shots of Castellanos celebrating with his son.

Despite being part of thrilling playoff runs, the Phillies have yet to win it all with Castellanos aboard.

And his tenure has ultimately not been worth near his salary.

Castellanos has been worth only 1.4 fWAR over the past three seasons.

His first year was a struggle.

His 29 homers in 2023 seemed like a step in the right direction.

But even when the power shows up, Castellanos has remained free-swinging and prone to severe slumps.

Despite playing 162 games in 2023, Castellanos was worth 0.4 fWAR.

His 105 wRC+ was only a tick above league average.

Over the past three years, his minus-28 defensive runs saved is the worst total among all MLB outfielders.

Advertisement Now there are whispers of the Phillies trying to trade Castellanos as they look to retool their roster.

But the question looms: Will they have any takers? 9.

Carlos Rodon , New York Yankees Original deal: Six years, $162 million Remaining years: 2025: $27.833 million 2026: $27.833 million 2027: $27.833 million 2028: $27.833 million Rodons big-money deal looked like a disaster after he posted a 6.85 ERA in 2023, his first year in the Bronx.

Rodon made small steps toward redemption this past season, throwing 175 innings with a 3.96 ERA and averaging 10 K/9.

Although Rodon was much improved from that disastrous 2023, he has a long way to go to live up to the high AAV the Yankees will pay him for four more seasons.

Rodon was worth only 1.7 fWAR this past season and lasted only 3 1/3 innings in his lone World Series outing.

The good news is that Rodon had a 2.91 ERA in the second half and saw his strikeout numbers return to near-elite levels after the All-Star break.

However, the 31 home runs Rodon surrendered in 2024 tied for the second-highest total in the majors.

8.

Xander Bogaerts , San Diego Padres Original deal: 11 years, $280 million Remaining years: 2025: $25,454,545 2026: $25,454,545 2027: $25,454,545 2028: $25,454,545 2029: $25,454,545 2030: $25,454,545 2031: $25,454,545 2032: $25,454,545 2033: $25,454,545 When the San Diego Padres signed Bogaerts at Winter Meetings in 2022, it was immediately a polarizing decision.

On one hand, it was another aggressive move to bring another All-Star to San Diego.

On the other hand, 11 years is an awfully long time.

Bogaerts is only two seasons into this contract, and though hes still an above-average player, there are already signs of decline .

In 2024, Bogaerts wRC+ fell to 95, below the league average of 100, for the first time since 2017.

He homered only 11 times in 111 games.

And worse from a value standpoint, Bogaerts has already moved away from shortstop, playing 85 games at second base this past season.

Bogaerts returned to shortstop in September, but hes never graded well at the position.

Going forward, the Padres are also paying Manny Machado more than $39 million annually through 2033, so they must hope Bogaerts can fend off further decline as he enters his age-32 season.

San Diego will pay him until he is 40.

7.

Jacob deGrom , Texas Rangers Original deal: Five years, $185 million Remaining years: 2025: $40 million 2026: $38 million 2027: $37 million 2028: $37 million (mutual option) The Rangers have already paid Jacob deGrom $70 million for only nine starts.

The deal has so far been a predictable money pit for a pitcher who has not surpassed 92 innings since 2021 .

Advertisement When healthy, deGrom has still looked like one of the best pitchers in the sport.

He returned from the second UCL reconstruction of his career and allowed only two earned runs in three starts with the Rangers this past season.

Over his 41 innings with the Rangers, he has a 2.41 ERA and has averaged 13 K/9.

Getting deGrom back on the mound this season was a positive step, even if it took longer than initially hoped.

Although deGrom enters the offseason healthy, he is now 36, and the Rangers are paying him top-shelf money for several more seasons.

6.

Mike Trout , Los Angeles Angels Original deal: 12 years, $426 million Remaining years: 2025: $37,116,666 2026: $37,116,666 2027: $37,116,666 2028: $37,116,666 2029: $37,116,666 2030: $37,116,666 With all the money left on the table, theres a real argument for Trout to be No.

1 on this list.

But because he is Mike Trout and because, when healthy, hes still had a 134 OPS+ over the past two seasons, we will resist such a harsh assessment for now.

Still, 2025 could be a crucial year for Trout to prove hes still among the games stars.

Trouts career path has come to mirror Ken Griffey Jr.s in ways good and bad, an all-time talent who keeps succumbing to injuries.

Even if Trout keeps hitting, his speed and defense may never again be the tools they once were.

While the Angels wrestle with even bigger problems, theyve also discussed Trout moving away from center field and spending more time at the outfield corners or DH.

Weve got a long way to go before 2030.

5.

Trevor Story , Boston Red Sox Original deal: Six years, $140 million Remaining years: 2025: $22.5 million 2026: $25 million (opt-out)* 2027: $25 million (*If Story opts out after 2025, the Red Sox can opt back in by activating an additional $25 million in 2028.) It was still April when Trevor Story dove for a ball and landed awkwardly.

As Story grimaced, Red Sox nation groaned.

The left shoulder dislocation cost Story the majority of the year, and now three years into a deal marred by injuries, the Red Sox must hope theres still something left in Storys bat.

Advertisement In only 163 games over the past three years, Story has a mere .296 on-base percentage and an 89 OPS+.

He made a surprise return from the shoulder injury and hit .270 with two home runs in September, providing a small glimpse of hope.

But after all the injuries, the chances of Story taking his opt-out after this coming season are slim.

As the Red Sox look to return to contention, they must hope Story can stay healthy and find his form of old even as he enters his age-32 season.

4.

Giancarlo Stanton , New York Yankees Original deal: 13 years, $325 million Remaining years: 2025: $32 million 2026: $29 million* 2027: $25 million* 2028: $25 million (club option)* (* Marlins will pay $10M.) If you watched the MLB postseason, you know Giancarlo Stanton can still change a baseball game.

We are still witnessing a potential Hall of Famer with majestic power.

Theres still a place for him on the Yankees .

But the harsh truth is hes not worth anywhere near his enormous salary these days.

For as much as playoff heroics seven home runs and a 1.048 OPS might have calmed some of the outcry, Stanton has been worth only 1.3 fWAR over the past three seasons.

Although his power still looms large, he hasnt had an on-base percentage over .300 since 2021.

Mostly a DH, Stanton played 33 games in the outfield last season and was worth minus-3 defensive runs saved.

Stanton is 35 and already among the slowest players in the league.

FanGraphs estimated Stantons production to be worth $6.2 million this past season, but the Yankees will pay him much more for the next three years.

3.

Javier Baez , Detroit Tigers Original deal: Six years, $140 million Remaining years: 2025: $25 million 2026: $24 million 2027: $24 million The Story contract still looks good in comparison with Baez.

The two shortstops signed for identical amounts in the 2021-22 offseason.

Baez has played far more games (360), which has only elevated the reasons for dismay.

Over the past two years, Baezs 56 wRC+ is the fourth worst among players to receive at least 500 plate appearances.

Although hes still capable of magical plays in the field, he was worth minus-4 defensive runs saved and minus-1 outs above average in 2024.

Advertisement Baez finally underwent hip surgery in August.

Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Baez is expected to have a fighting chance to be ready for Opening Day , and it seems he is in Detroits plans once again in 2025.

He may be a mere platoon player next season, and it is still difficult to envision Baez finishing this contract as the Tigers improve their trajectory.

Perhaps the oddest part: The notoriously strikeout-prone Baez has actually cut his K-rate sharply since coming to Detroit, from 33.6 percent in 2021 to 23.9 percent last season.

In turn, however, Baezs power has been zapped and his ability to hit fastballs has greatly diminished.

2.

Kris Bryant , Colorado Rockies Original deal: Seven years, $182 million Remaining years: 2025: $27 million 2026: $27 million 2027: $27 million 2028: $27 million Javier Baezs contract is an albatross.

The Yankees declined their option on Anthony Rizzo.

And still no member of the once-great Cubs core is struggling more than Kris Bryant.

The player who won an MVP at 24 has played only 159 games over three seasons with the Rockies .

His performance at the plate has declined in each of those three seasons.

A negative WAR player over the past two years, Bryant has battled plantar fasciitis and multiple back issues.

Now dealing with severe arthritis, Bryant has indicated he hasnt had any thoughts of retirement.

At the same time, hes well aware of how rough the situation has become.

Im not going to sugarcoat it, its been terrible, he told reporters in September .

Its been terrible on me, physically and emotionally.

I feel like Ive let a ton of people down.

1.

Anthony Rendon , Los Angeles Angels Original deal: Seven years, $245 million Remaining years: 2025: $38 million 2026: $38 million The good news here: There are only two seasons left.

But even though there are longer deals worth more money, no one is getting less bang for their buck than the Angels for Anthony Rendon.

The third baseman who was among the toasts of the 2019-20 free-agent class has never played more than 58 games in a season for the Angels.

This past season he hit a grand total of zero home runs in 206 at-bats.

FanGraphs had him as a negative WAR player for the first time in his career.

Advertisement Worse, Rendons not-so-subtle disinterest leaves almost no room for hope.

Rendon will be paid handsomely, and eventually the Angels will be able to move on from what will go down as one of the worst contracts in MLB history.

Might that day be coming sooner rather than later? When Anthony has played, he hasnt been productive, Angels general manager Perry Minasian said in September .

Hes going to have to come in and earn it.

There are no handouts.

Were starting to create some depth.

...

The best players are going to play.

Honorable mention Jose Berrios , Toronto Blue Jays : Four years, $86.9 million remaining, with an opt-out after 2026 Robbie Ray , San Francisco Giants : Two years, $50 million remaining Lance McCullers Jr.

, Houston Astros : Two years, $35.4 million remaining DJ LeMahieu , New York Yankees: Two years, $30 million remaining Jung Hoo Lee , San Francisco Giants: Five years, $105.2 million remaining, with an opt-out after 2027 Jordan Montgomery , Arizona Diamondbacks: One year, $22.5 million remaining Starling Marte, New York Mets : One year, $20.75 million remaining (Top photo of Anthony Rendon and Mike Trout: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images).

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