Cot's Baseball Contracts: 06/08/2004

Notable historical salaries

Unofficial historical contract information collected from various books and publications.

Atlanta Braves
Milwaukee Braves

Henry Aaron of
Milwaukee Braves 1954-1965, Atlanta 1966-74,
Milwaukee Brewers 1975-76

1952: $200 per month with Indianapolis Clowns
1954:$ 5,000
1957:$22,500
1 year/$35,000 (1959)
1 year/$50,000 (1962)
1 year/$60,000 (1964)
1 year/$70,000 (1965)
2 years/$200,000 (1967-68)
2 years/$250,000 (1970-71)
3 years/$600,000 (1972-74)
1975:$250,000

Greg Maddux rhp
Chicago Cubs 1986-92 & 2004-06, Atlanta 1993-2003
LA Dodgers 2006 & 2008, San Diego 2007-08

1 year/$10M (2008)

re-signed by San Diego 11/19/07
no-trade protection
award bonuses: $0.1M for Cy Young ($50,000 for 2nd, $25,000 for 3rd); $0.1M for MVP ($50,000 for 2nd, $25,000 for 3rd); $0.1M for WS MVP; $50,000 each for All Star selection, Gold Glove or LCS MVP; $25,000 for Silver Slugger
perks: suite on road, membership at Del Mar Country Club
acquired by LA Dodgers in trade from San Diego 8/19/08

1 year/$10M (2007), plus 2008 options

signed as a free agent 12/06

07:$10M, 08:$6M player option or $11M club option

2008 player option may increase to: $7.5M with 170 IP in 2007; $8.75M with 185 IP in 2007; or $10M with 200 IP in 2007

no-trade protection

award bonuses: $0.1M for Cy Young ($50,000 for 2nd, $25,000 for 3rd); $0.1M for MVP ($50,000 for 2nd, $25,000 for 3rd); $0.1M for WS MVP; $50,000 each for All Star selection, Gold Glove or LCS MVP; $25,000 for Silver Slugger

perks: suite on road, membership at Del Mar Country Club

3 years/$24M (2004-06) (Chicago Cubs)

acquired in trade 7/06 (Cubs paying Dodgers $2M as part of deal)

04:$6M, 05:$9M, 06:$9M

club may void 2006 if Maddux does not post 400 IP 04-05

signed as a free agent 3/04

1 year/$14.75M (2003), avoided arbitration 2/03 ($16M-$13.5M)
5 years/$57.5M (1998-2002)

$3M signing bonus

98:$9M, 99:$10M, 00:$10.5M, 01:$12.5M, 02:$12.5M
signed 8/97

5 years/$28M (1993-97) (Atlanta)

$5.6M/year average was a record at time of signing
signed as a free agent 12/92

1 year/$4.2M (1992) (Chicago Cubs)

avoided arbitration 1/92 ($4.4M-$3.65M)

signed extension through 1991 season 4/90 (paying $2.425M in 1991)
1 year/$82,500 (1988), signed 2/88
agent: Scott Boras
drafted 1984 (2-31)
ML service: 21.021 (through 2007)

Eddie Mathews 3b
Boston Braves 1952, Milwaukee Braves 1953-1965
Atlanta Braves 1966-67, Houston Astros 1967, Detroit Tigers 1967-68

1 year/$50,000 (1959)

Baltimore Orioles
St. Louis Browns

Eddie Murray 1b
Baltimore Orioles 1977-1988 & 1996, Los Angeles 1989-1991 & 1997
New York Mets 1992-93, Cleveland 1994-96, Anaheim 1997

6 years/$13.2M (1986-91)

Mike Mussina rhp
Baltimore 1991-2000, NY Yankees 2001-08

2 years/$23M (2007-08)

re-signed by NY Yankees as a free agent 11/06
$1M signing bonus
07:$11M, 08:$11M
no-trade protection
$3M annually deferred without interest
retired 11/08

6 years/$88.5M (2001-06), plus 2007 club option

signed by NY Yankees as a free agent 12/00

$12M signing bonus (paid over 6 years)

01:$8M, 02:$9M, 03:$10M, 04:$14M, 05:$17M, 06:$17M, 07:$17M club option ($1.5M buyout)

no-trade clause
Yankees declined $17M 2007 option

3 years (1998-2000)

signed extension with Baltimore 5/97

1 year/$6.825M (1997)

re-signed by Baltimore 2/97

1 year/$0.775M (1994)
1 year/$0.45M (1993)
1 year/$0.1525M (1992)
drafted 1990 (1-20) (Stanford)
drafted 1987 (11-272) (Montoursville HS, Pa.)
agent: Arn Tellum
ML service: 17.066 (through 2008)

Cal Ripken Jr. ss-3b
Baltimore 1981-2001

1 year/$0.175M (1983), plus bonuses

$15,000 in performance bonuses based on games
$25,000 in award bonuses (MVP)

4 years/$4M (1984-87), re-signed 1/84

avoided arbitration ($0.85M-$0.7M)

1 year/$1.7M (1988)
3 years/$6.3M (1989-91), plus $2.1M 1992 option
5 years/$30.5M (1993-97), re-signed 8/92

$3M signing bonus (paid in installments, 1993-94)
93:$4.5M, 94:$4.8M, 95:$6M, 96:$6M, 97:$6.2M
may accept front office job at $2M/year after retirement

2nd most lucrative contract in history

2 years/$15.1M (1998-99), plus $6.3M 2000 option
1 year/$6.3M (2001)
drafted 1978 (2-48), $20,000 signing bonus
agent: Ron Shapiro
ML service:: 19.057 (through 2000)

George Sisler of
St. Louis Browns 1915-1927, Washington 1928, Boston Braves 1928-30

1 year/$25,000 (1924) (as player-manager)

Boston Red Sox

Roger Clemens rhp
Boston 1984-96, Toronto 1997-98,
New York Yankees 1999-2003 & 2007, Houston 2004-06

1 year/$28,000,022 (2007) (NY Yankees)

contract purchased 6/9/07

signed as a free agent 5/6/07 (minor-league contract)

to receive pro-rated portion of major-league salary after joining Yankees 6/9/07 (about $17.4M)

1 year/$22,000,022 (2006) (Houston)

contract purchased 6/06

re-signed as free agent 5/06 (1 year/$0.322M minor-league deal)

received pro-rated portion of major-league salary ($12,262,294) after re-joining Astros 6/22/06

1 year/$18M (2005) (Houston)

avoided arbitration 1/05 ($22M-$13.5M)

complete no-trade clause

$3M assignment bonus if Clemens waives no-trade clause

1 year/$5M (2004) (Houston)

$3.5M of 2004 salary deferred for 2 years

bonuses: ($25,000 All Star, $1.4M attendance)
10-year personal-services contract with Houston after retirement
signed as a free agent 1/ 04 (out of retirement)

1 year/$10.1M (2003) (NY Yankees) (all deferred to 2004-2014)

$8.1M present value at signing - paid as follows: 04:$0.6M, 05:$0.7M, 06:$0.9M, 07-12:$0.95M/year, 13-14:$1.1M/year

"declined" 2003 player option, receiving $10.3M buyout

2 years/$30.9M (2001-02), plus 2003 option (NY Yankees)

$5M bonus (paid 2001-02)

01:$7.8M, 02:$7.8M, 03:$10.3M player option ($10.3M buyout), 04:$7.2M club option
signed extension 8/00

3 years/$24.75M (1997-99), plus $8.1M 2000 club option (Toronto)

$2M signing bonus
97:$5.5M, 98:$7.5M, 99:$8M, 00:$8.1M option ($1.75M buyout)
acquired by NY Yankees in trade (from Toronto) 2/99
side agreement (later invalidated by MLB) gave Clemens:

right to request a trade
right to approve team to which he is traded
right to request trade to Houston after any season during the life of the contract

4 years/$21.521M (1992-95), plus 1996 option (Boston)

$0.621M signing bonus
92:$4.4M, 93:$4.5M, 94:$5M, 95:$5.5M
Boston exercised $5.5M 1996 club option 3/93
1996 option ($1.5M buyout):

$5.5M club option if exercised before '93 season
$5.8M club option if exercised before '94 season
$6M player option with

220 IP in '94 or '95, OR
1st, 2nd or 3rd in '94 or '95 Cy Young vote

first player to receive $5M/year

signed extension 2/91

3 years/$7.5M (1989-1991)

$0.3M signing bonus

89:$2.2M, 90:$2.5M, 91:$2.5M
award bonuses:

$0.1M each for Cy Young, MVP & WS MVP
$50,000 for LCS MVP

avoided arbitration 2/89 ($2.36M-$1.9M)

2 years/$2M (1987-88), plus bonuses

87:$0.65M, 88:$1.35M
signed 4/87, replacing 1 year/$0.4M contract for 1987 (Boston had unilaterally renewed Clemens' contract when he walked out of training camp)

1 year/$0.22M (1986), plus $0.12M in bonuses
1 year/$0.14M (1985)
drafted:

1983 (1-19) (Boston), $121,000 signing bonus
1981 (12-288) (NY Mets) (did not sign)

agents: Hendricks brothers
ML service: 23.014

Carlton Fisk c
Boston 1969, 1971-1979
Chicago White Sox 1980-93

drafted 1967 (1-4) (New Hampshire), $10,000 signing bonus

Johnny Pesky inf
Boston Red Sox 1942 & 1946-52, Detroit 1952-54, Washington 1954

signed 1940 for $500 bonus & $150/month (also received $1,000 after first pro season)
1 year/$4,000 (1942), plus $5,000 at season's end
1 year/$20,000 (1947)
1 year/$17,500 (1948)

Curt Schilling rhp
Baltimore 1988-90, Houston 1991,
Philadelphia 1992-2000, Arizona 2000-03, Boston 2004-08

1 year/$8M (2008)

re-signed by Boston as a free agent 11/6/07
$0.5M one-time assignment bonus if traded
performance bonuses: $0.375M each for 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 & 200 IP
award bonuses: $50,000 for All Star starter; $0.1M each for All Star, LCS MVP, WS MVP; $0.5M for Cy Young ($0.4M for 2nd, $0.3M for 3rd, $1M for receiving one Cy Young vote (1st, 2nd or 3rd)
$2M in weight clauses ($333,333 each for maintaining weight in 6 random weigh-ins, one per month, during season)
perks: use of team uniform for charity events, suite for home-game starts and charity events, day care for home games, 6 season tickets in State Street Pavilion

3 years/$37.5M (2004-06), plus 2007 option

signed extension with Boston 11/03 after agreeing to waive no-trade clause

04:$12M, 05:$12.5M, 06:$13M, 07:$13M option

$13M 2007 option vested with 2004 World Series victory

bonuses: $0.1M (All Star), $2M (if Boston wins World Series)

3 years/$32M (2002-04)

signed extension with Arizona 12/15/00

02:$10M, 03:$10M, 04:$12M
half of salary each season deferred

$6M in performance bonuses

3 years/$15.45M (1998-2000), plus 2001 club option

signed extension with Philadelphia 4/3/97
98:$4.65M, 99:$5.15M, 00:$5.65M, 01:$6.5M club option
acquired by Arizona in trade with Philadelphia 7/00

1 year/$3.5M (1997)
1 year/$2M (1996)
1 year/$2.3M (1995)

re-signed by Philadelphia 12/16/94 (avoided arbitration)

1 year/$2.3M (1994)

re-signed by Philadelphia 2/7/94 (avoided arbitration)

1 year/$1.025M (1993)
1 year/$0.205M (1992)

acquired by Philadelphia in trade from Houston 4/92

1 year/$0.125M (1991) (Houston)

acquired by Houston in trade from Baltimore 1/91

1 year/$0.103M (1990) (Baltimore)
acquired by Baltimore in trade from Boston 7/88
drafted by Boston 1986 (2-39)
agent: Ed Hayes (previously Jeff Borris)
ML service: 18.134 (through 2008)

Ted Williams of
Boston Red Sox 1939-1960

1 year/$6,500 (1939)
1 year/$12,000 (1940)
1 year/$20,000 (1941)
1 year/$35,000 (1942)
1 year/$50,000 (1946)
1 year/$75,000 (1947)
1 year/$90,000 (1948)
1 year/$100,000 (1949)
1 year/$100,000 (1950)
1 year/$100,000 (1951)
1 year/$100,000 (1952)
1 year/$100,000 (1953)
1 year/$100,000 (1954)
1 year/$100,000 (1955)
1 year/$125,000 (1956)
1 year/$125,000 (1957)
1 year/$125,000 (1958)
1 year/$125,000 (1959)
1 year/$90,000 (1960)

Carl Yastrzemski of-1b
Boston Red Sox 1961-1983

signed 1958, receiving:

$108,000 signing bonus
2 year/$10,000 minor-league contract

1 year/$15,000 (1962)
1968:$100,000
1970:$125,000
3 years/$500,000 (1971-73)

most lucrative deal in baseball history at signing (2/17/1971)
1971:$160,000

1976:$175,000
1977:$242,500

Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers

Jackie Robinson inf
Brooklyn 1947-1956

earned $500 per month with 1945 Kansas City Monarchs
signed with Brooklyn 10/23/1945 for $600/month & $3,500 signing bonus
1 year/$5,000 (1947) (Major League minimum)
1 year/$35,000 (1950)
1 year/$37,500 (1955)
1 year/$33,000 (1956)
top salary: $42,500

Chicago Cubs

Ryne Sandberg 2b
Philadelphia Phillies 1981, Chicago Cubs 1982-1997

1 year/$2.3M (1996)
4 years/$28.4M (1993-97)

$3.5M signing bonus (paid 12/92)
93:$5.1M, 94:$5.1M, 95:$5.1M, 96:$5.1M, 97:$5.9M club option ($2.5M buyout)
up to $1.65M in award bonuses
$2M personal services contract (paid in first 4 years after retirement)
record $7.1M annual average at signing
signed 3/92

retired after 1994 season

3 years/$6.3M (1990-92)

92:$2.1M

signed 4/89

6 years/$3.97M (1984-89)

84:$0.25M, 85:$505M, 86:$0.665M, 87:$0.76M, 88:$0.84M, 89:$0.95M

signed 2/84

drafted 1978 (20-511), $25,000 signing bonus
agent: Jim Turner

Sammy Sosa dh-of
Texas 1989, Chicago White Sox 1989-91
Chicago Cubs 1992-2004, Baltimore 2005, Texas 2007

1 year/$0.5M (2007)

signed by Texas as a free agent 1/07 (minor-league contract)
performance bonuses: $0.2M each for 200, 250, 300 PAs; $0.25M each for 350, 400, 450 & 500 PAs; $0.3M each for 550, 600 PAs
award bonus: $0.2M for Comeback Player of Year
contract purchased 4/07

4 years/$72M (2002-05), plus 2006 option (Chicago Cubs)

$6M signing bonus
02:$12M, 03:$13M, 04:$16M, 05:$17M, 06:$18M club option ($4.5M buyout)
$3.5M severance payment due at end of contract
2006 option becomes guaranteed if Sosa is traded
$19M 2007 option added if Sosa is traded
Sosa declined right to opt out after '03 & collect $1.75M buyout

contract restructured 1/05 as part of trade to Orioles, with Sosa agreeing to eliminate 1) '06 option & 2) clause adding '07 option

Orioles will pay $8.15M of 2005 salary

Cubs will pay:

$8.85M of 2005 salary

$3.5M severance payment, due within 30 days of trade

$4.5M assignment bonus (replacing $4.5M '06 buyout)

4 years/$42.5M (1998-2001) (Chicago Cubs)
$3,500 signing bonus
agents: Adam Katz, Tom Reich
ML service: 17.049

Chicago White Sox

Ozzie Guillen ss
Chicago White Sox 1985-1997
Baltimore 1998, Atlanta 1998-1999, Tampa Bay 2000

1 year (2000) (Tampa Bay)
1 year/$0.55M (1999) (Atlanta)
1 year/$0.45M (1998) (Baltimore)

released by Baltimore 5/1/98
signed by Atlanta as a free agent 5/6/98

3 years/$12.5M (1995-97), plus 1998 club option

Chicago declined 98 option

4 years/$6.5M (1990-93), plus 1994 club option

Chicago exercised $2.1M club option 10/93
signed 10/1/89

1 year/$0.8M (1989), signed 2/9/89
1 year/$0.5375M (1988)
1 year/$0.175M (1987)
1 year/$0.15M (1986)
1 year/$60,000 (1985)
acquired in trade from San Diego 12/6/84
signed by San Diego 1980 as amateur free agent from Venezuela

Joe Jackson of
Philadelphia A's 1908-09, Cleveland 1910-1915,
Chicago White Sox 1915-1920

3 years/$18,000 (1914-16), signed 2/1914

contract purchased from Cleveland 8/20/1915 for $31,500

3 years/$18,000 (1917-19), signed 8/16/1915
3 years/$27,000 (1920-22)

1920: $8,000

Cincinnati Reds

Johnny Bench c-inf
Cincinnati 1965-1983

drafted 1965 (2-36), $6,000 signing bonus

Pete Rose inf-of
Cincinnati 1963-1978 & 1984-86, Philadelpha 1979-1983, Montreal 1984

signed 1960 for $5,000, plus $7,000 signing bonus
1 year/$105,000 (1970)
1 year/$160,000 (1974)
1 year/$188,000 (1976), plus $188,000 1977 club option
2 years/$725,000 (1977-1978)
4 years/$3.2M (1979-82)

deal made Rose baseball's highest-paid player at signing

Cleveland Indians

Larry Doby of
Cleveland 1947-1955 & 1958,
Chicago White Sox 1956-57 & 1959, Detroit 1959

highest annual salary: $36,000

Bob Feller rhp
Cleveland 1936-1956

1 year/$10,000 (1937), signed 1/1937

Detroit Tigers

Ty Cobb of
Detroit 1905-1928

1 year/$1,500 (1906)
1 year/$2,200 (1907)
1 year/$5,000 (1908)

$4,000 salary, plus $800 bonus for hitting above .300

1 year/$10,000 (1911)
3 years/$27,000 (1910-12)
3 years/$36,000 (1915-17) (est.)
1 year/$32,500 (1921), as player-manager
1 year/$70,000 (1927), plus $35,000 in bonuses

$30,000 signing bonus
$40,000 1927 salary
$15,000 in Spring Training game receipts
$20,000 bonus if A's won pennant (paid despite Athletics' second-place finish in 1927)

Hank Greenberg of
Detroit 1930-1947

1 year/$115,000 (1947)

Houston Astros

Jeff Bagwell 1b
Houston 1991-2005

5 years/$85M (2002-06), plus 2007 club option

retired 12/06

$15M signing bonus (paid 02-06)

02:$8M, 03:$10M, 04:$13M, 05:$15M, 06:$17M, 07:$18M club option ($7M buyout)

$29M of total package deferred

02:$2M, 03:$3M, 04:$6M, 05:$8M, 06:$10M

Astros declined $18M 2007 option 10/06

Houston's insurance claim -- seeking to recoup $15.6M of $17M 2006 salary due to Bagwell's shoulder injury -- was denied 3/06. The Astros' subsequent lawsuit against Connecticut General Life was settled 12/06.

drafted 1989 (4-109)
agent: Barry Axelrod
ML service: 15.000

Craig Biggio c-2b-of
Houston 1988 - 2007

1 year/$5.15M (2007)

re-signed 11/06

award bonuses: $50,000 each for MVP, WS MVP or Gold Glove, $25,000 for All-Star selection, LCS MVP or Silver Slugger

1 year/$4M (2006), re-signed 9/05
1 year/$3M (2004), plus $3M 2005 club option

04:$3M, 05:$3M club option ($1M buyout); signed extension 1/03

$1.5M/year in incentives

$0.25M each for 450, 500, 550, 600, 650 & 700 PAs
Houston exercised $3M 2005 option 10/04

3 years/$28M (2001-03)

$7M signing bonus

$1M of bonus due Jan. 15 each year 00-03
$3M of bonus due Jan. 15, 2004

01:$6M, 02:$7M, 03:$8M

4 years/$22.36M (1996-1999), plus $3M 2000 club option

re-signed as a free agent 12/95

drafted 1987 (1-22)
agent: Barry Axelrod
ML service: 18.099

Kansas City Royals

George Brett 3b-1b
Kansas City Royals 1973-1993

2 years/$7.7M (1991-92), plus 1993 club option

$0.5M signing bonus

1991:$3.1M, 1992:$3.1M, 1993:$3.1M ($1M buyout)

signed re-worked contract 5/21/1991

5 years (1987-1991), plus 1992-93 club options

signed extension May, 1984
1987-91:$1.5M annually, 1992:$1.5M club option, 1993:$1.5M club option
contract also paid Brett about $0.45M annually from real-estate deal
performance bonuses: $100,000 for MVP, $50,000 each for World Series or ALCS MVP, $50,000 All Star, $100,000 Gold Glove, $60,000 for 550 PAs, $100,000 for 625 PAs
7 year personal services contract as VP after retirement, single room on road trips, $5M loan with 10 percent interest
as part of the extension, Brett agreed to give the Royals the bat he used in the July 24, 1983 "Pine Tar Game"

5 years/$5M (1982-86) (est.)

1985:$1M

5 years/$1.5M (1977-81)

1977:$200,000

1 year/$126,000 (1976)
drafted 1971 (2- 29) (El Segundo HS, CA), $25,000 signing bonus

Minnesota Twins

Kirby Puckett of
Minnesota Twins 1984-1995

1 year (1984)
1 year/$0.13M (1985)
1 year/$0.255M (1986)
1 year/$0.465M (1987)
1 year/$1.09M (1988), avoided arbitration
1 year/$2M (1989)
3 years/$9M (1990-92), plus $0.75M in incentives

$1.5M signing bonus (paid over 3 years)
90:$2.2M, 91:$2.5M, 92:$2.8M
may earn $0.25M/year in incentives
first player to earn average of $3M annually

5 years/$30M (1993-97)

$6M signing bonus (paid over life of deal)
93:$4M, 94:$4M, 95:$5M, 96:$5M, 97:$6M
option to become free agent after 1995 season

agent: Ron Shapiro
drafted 1982 (1-3), $20,000 signing bonus

New York Mets

Mike Piazza c
Los Angeles Dodgers (1993-98), Florida (1998)
NY Mets (1998-2005), San Diego (2006), Oakland (2007)

retired 5/08
1 year/$8.5M (2007) (Oakland)

signed as a free agent 12/06

1 year/$2M (2006), plus 2007 option (SD)

signed as a free agent 1/06

06:$1.25M, 07:$8M mutual option ($0.75M buyout)
SD declined $8M 2007 option 10/06

performance bonus: $0.25M each for 85, 95 & 105 games started
award bonus: $50,000 for Gold Glove award

7 years/$91M (1999-2005) (NY Mets)

$7.5M signing bonus ($4M up front, $3.5M 1/15/02)

99:$6M, 00:$11M, 01:$12.5M, 02:$9.5M, 03:$14.5M, 04:$15M, 05:$15M

$50,000 All Star award bonus

limited no-trade clause (may name 4 teams he'd accept trade to before each season)

2 years/$15M (1997-98)

signed extension 2/97 (avoided arbitration, $7.65M-$6.1M)

97:$7M, 98:$8M

3 years/$4.2M (1994-96)

94:$0.6M, 95:$0.9M, 96:$2.7M

1 year/$0.126M (1993)
agent: Dan Lozano
ML service: 15.034

Tom Seaver rhp
New York Mets 1967-1977, 1983
Cincinnati Reds 1977-1982,
Chicago White Sox 1984-85, Boston Red Sox 1986

1 year/$136,000 (1975)

pay cut of $34,000 from 1974 salary restored after Seaver won 1975 Cy Young award

1 year/$170,000 (1974)
1 year/$25,000 (1968)
signed 1966 as amateur free agent, $50,000 bonus

New York Yankees

Yogi Berra c-of
New York Yankees 1947-1965

1 year/$14,000 (1949)

Joe DiMaggio of
New York Yankees 1936-1951

1 year/$8,500 (1936) (highest-ever salary for Yankee rookie)
1 year/$17,000 (1937)
1 year/$25,000 (1938)
1 year/$89,000 (1949)
1 year/$100,000 (1951)

Whitey Ford lhp
New York Yankees 1950-1967

1 year/$33,000 (1958)

Lou Gehrig 1b
New York Yankees 1923-1939

signed 6/1923, receiving:

$1,500 signing bonus

$2,000 salary for remainder of 1923 season

1 year/$25,000 (1931)
1 year/$31,000 (1935)
1 year/$39,000 (1938)

Reggie Jackson of-dh
Kansas City/Oakland A's 1967-1975, Baltimore 1976,
New York Yankees 1977-1981, California Angels 1982-1987

5 years/$2.9M (1977-81)
drafted by Kansas City 1966 (1-2) (Arizona State), $80,000 signing bonus

Mickey Mantle of
New York Yankees 1951-1968

1 year/$30,000 (1956)
1 year/$72,500 (1961)
1 year/$100,000 (1966)

Roger Maris of
Cleveland Indians 1957-58, Kansas City A's 1958-59
New York Yankees 1960-1966, St. Louis Cardinals 1967-68

1 year/$37,000 (1961)

Phil Rizzuto ss
New York Yankees 1941-1956

1 year/$5,000 (1941)
1 year/$37,700 (1949)
1 year/$40,000 (1950)
1 year/$32,000 (1955)
1 year/$30,000 (1956)

Babe Ruth lhp-of
Boston Red Sox 1914-1919, New York Yankees 1920-1934
Boston Braves 1935

annual salaries:

1914:$1,900, 1915:$3,500, 1916:$3,500, 1917:$5,000, 1918:$7,500, 1919:$10,000, 1920:$20,000, 1921:$30,000, 1922:$52,000, 1923:$52,000, 1924:$52,000, 1925:$52,000, 1926:$52,000, 1927:$70,000, 1928:$70,000, 1929:$70,000, 1930:$80,000, 1931:$80,000, 1932:$75,000, 1933:$52,000, 1934:$37,500, 1935:$25,000

signed 1914 for $600

Oakland Athletics

Rickey Henderson of
Oakland 1979-1984, 1989-1995, 1998
NY Yankees 1985-1989
Toronto 1993, San Diego 1996-1997, 2001
Anaheim 1998, NY Mets 1999-2000
Seattle 2000, Boston 2002, LA Dodgers 2003

1 year/$0.35M (2002) (Boston)
1 year/$0.3M (2001) (San Diego)
drafted 1976 (4-96), $10,000 signing bonus

Philadelphia Phillies

Mike Schmidt 3b
Philadelphia Phillies 1972-1989

1 year/$0.5M (1989)
$0.5M each if on roster 5/15 and 8/15
performance bonuses for games started
1 year/$2.25M (1988)
6 years/$10M (1982-87)
6 years/more than $3M (1976-81)
drafted 1971 (2-30) (Ohio U), $32,500 signing bonus

Pittsburgh Pirates

Roberto Clemente of
Pittsburgh 1955-1972

1 year/$100,000 (1967)
signed by Brooklyn 2/1954 for $5,000 salary and $10,000 signing bonus
signed 10/9/1952 by Santurce Crabbers for $40/week, a $400 signing bonus and a new glove

Cot Tierney inf
Pittsburgh 1920-1923, Philadelphia Phillies 1923
Boston Braves 1924, Brooklyn 1925

1 year/$5,000 (1923)

St. Louis Cardinals

Lou Brock of
Chicago Cubs 1961-1964, St. Louis Cardinals 1964-1979

1 year/$70,000 (1968)

re-signed by St. Louis 1/68

acquired by St. Louis in trade from Chicago Cubs 6/15/64

Dizzy Dean rhp
St. Louis Cardinals 1930 & 1932-37
Chicago Cubs 1938-41
St. Louis Browns 1947

1 year/$17,500 (1938)

re-signed by St. Louis 2/38
acquired by Chicago Cubs in trade from St. Louis 4/38

Bob Gibson rhp
St. Louis Cardinals 1959-1975

1 year/$0.15M (1971)

re-signed by St. Louis 10/70

1 year/$0.125M (1969)

re-signed by St. Louis 3/69

1 year/$40,000 (1965)

re-signed by St. Louis 2/65

Mark McGwire 1b
Oakland 1987-1997, St. Louis Cardinals 1997-2001

2 years/$30M (2002-03)

02:$14M, 03:$16M

attendance bonus of $2/fan for each fan beyond 2.8 million

about 25% of $30M deferred at "reasonable" interest rate

2002-03 extension negotiated without an agent

retired 11/01, leaving 2002-03 extension unsigned

3 years/$28.5M (1998-2000), plus 2001 mutual option

signed extension 9/16/07

$1M signing bonus

98:$8M, 99:$8.5M, 00:$9M, 01:$11M mutual option ($2M buyout)

attendance bonus of $1/fan for each fan beyond 2.8 million

bonus worth $586,493 in 2000

5 years/$28M (1993-97)

$7M signing bonus

93:$2.6M, 94:$1.6M, 95:$5.5M, 96:$5.6M, 97:$5.7M

1 year/$2.7M (1992)
1 year/$2.85M (1991)

re-signed 2/91, avoided arbitration $3.3M-$2M

1 year/$1.5M (1990)

signed 2/90 (avoided arbitration, $1.72M-$1M)

may earn up to $170,000 in performance bonuses

1 year/$0.455M (1989)

received $55,500 in bonuses

1 year/$0.25M (1988)
1 year/$72,500 (1987)
1 year/$60,000 (1986)
drafted 1984 (1-10) by Oakland, $125,000 signing bonus
drafted 1981 (8-198) by Montreal (did not sign)
agent: Robert Cohen

Joe Medwick of
St. Louis Cardinals 1932-1940 & 1947-48,
Brooklyn 1940-43 & 1946, NY Giants 1943-45,
Boston Braves 1945

1 year/$20,000 (1941)

signed by Brooklyn 10/40

1 year/$18,000 (1940)

re-signed by St. Louis 3/40
acquired by Brooklyn in trade from St. Louis 6/40

1 year/$20,000 (1939)

signed

Stan Musial of-1b
St. Louis Cardinals 1941-1963

1 year/$70,000 (1962)
1 year/$75,000 (1961)
1 year/$80,000 (1960)
1 year/$100,000 (1959)
1 year/$100,000 (1958)
1 year/$100,000 (1957)
1 year/$80,000 (1954)
1 year/$50,000 (1950)
1 year/$31,000 (1948)
1 year/$31,000 (1947)

Ozzie Smith ss
San Diego 1978-1981, St. Louis Cardinals 1982-1996

1 year/$3M (1993), plus recurring club options

signed extension with St. Louis 12/92
$3M salaries for remaining years of Smith's career, provided:

Smith is cleared to play by independent physician, and
Smith has 400 PAs per season

6 year/$1.2M personal services contract after retirement

2 years/$4.3M (1990-91), plus 1992 club option

signed extension with St. Louis 4/85
90:$2.1M, 91:$2.1M, 92:$2M club option ($0.1M buyout)
St. Louis exercised $2M club option 11/91

4 years/$8.7M (1986-89)

signed extension with St. Louis 4/85
89: $2.2M

3 years (1983-85)

signed extension with St. Louis 1/83

1 year/$0.45M (1982)

signed by St. Louis 4/82 (lost in arbitration, $0.75M-$0.45M)

1 year/$0.3M (1981)

re-signed by San Diego
acquired by St. Louis in trade from San Diego 12/81 (Smith agreed to waive no-trade clause to facilitate deal)

agent: Ed Gottlieb, Debbie Ehlmann
drafted by Detroit 1976 (7-146) (did not sign)
drafted by San Diego 1977 (4-86) (Cal Poly), $5,000 signing bonus

Bruce Sutter rhp
Chicago Cubs 1975-1980, St. Louis 1981-84, Atlanta 1985-89

6 years/$9.6M (1985-90) Atlanta

paid in 6 installments of $750,000, with balance to an annuity paying an estimated $44 million over 30 years

signed as a free agent 12/84

1981-84 St. Louis

reportedly signed $3.5M contract with St. Louis

acquired in trade 1/80

1 year/$700,000 (1980)

won arbitration 2/80, Chicago replaced tentative deal for 5 years/$2.375M (1980-84) rejected by Cubs owner Phil Wrigley

2 years/$300,000 (1978-79)

1978:$75,000

1 year/$50,000 (1977)
1 year/$19,000 (1976)
contract purchased 5/76
signed as undrafted free agent by Cubs 9/1971 for bonus of $500, plus $500/month salary in minors
drafted 1970 (21st round) by Washington Senators (did not sign & instead attended Old Dominion University for 6 weeks)
agents: Bob Gilhooley & Jim Bronner

San Diego Padres
Tony Gwynn of
San Diego Padres 1982-2001

2 years/$10.6M (1999-2000), plus $6M 2001 club option

99:$4.3M, 00:$4.3M, 01:$6M club option ($2M buyout)

signed extension 4/97 (picked up 98 option at same time)
additional $3.7M with 600 PAs

club declined 2001 option 11/00

2 years/$8.5M (1996-97), plus $4M 1998 club option

96:$4M, 97:$4M, 98:$4M ($0.5M buyout)
additional $0.5M/year for 500 plate appearances

club exercised $4M 1998 option 4/97

3 years/$12.25M (1993-95)

$1.15M signing bonus

93:$3.6M, 94:$3.25M, 95:$4.25M

signed extension 2/91

1 year/$2M (1991), plus 1992 club option

91:$2M, 92:$2M club option ($0.2M buyout)

club must make decision on 1992 option by end of 1990 season

signed extension 12/88

5 years (1985-89), plus 1990 club option

six-figure signing bonus

total value of $4.5M if option is exercised

85:$0.5M, 88:$1M, 89:$1M, 90:club option

club added award bonuses 3/87

club added $0.5M 2/88

signed 11/84, replacing final year of previous deal, which was to pay $0.18M for 1985

84:$0.1M

agent: John Boggs (previously Lew Muller)
drafted 1981 (3-58), $25,000 signing bonus
(also drafted by San Diego Clippers in 10th round of 1981 NBA Draft)

Dave Winfield of-dh
San Diego 1973-1980, NY Yankees 1981-90
California Angels 1990-91, Toronto 1992
Minnesota 1993-94, Cleveland 1995

drafted 1973 (1-4), $65,000 signing bonus

San Francisco Giants
New York Giants

Barry Bonds of
Pittsburgh 1986-92, San Francisco 1993-2007

1 year/$15.8M (2007)

re-signed as a free agent 2/07 (Bonds' agent has said that any provision allowing the club to void the contract in the wake of an indictment is not enforceable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.)
07:$15.8M ($5.8M of 2007 salary deferred)
$4.2M in performance bonuses (earned $3.5M in bonuses, to be paid, plus 3% interest, in 2009):

$0.5M for 250 PAs
$1M each for 300, 375 & 450 PAs
$0.7M for 525 PAs

if Bonds is indicted, club has right to:

terminate contract under sections 7(b)(1) and 7(b)(3) of Uniform Player Contract
convert contract to a non-guaranteed deal, allowing club to release him before Opening Day & pay 30 or 45 days' termination pay

Bonds agreed no to ask the players' union to file a grievance if he is released after an indictment
under the agreement, Bonds' personal trainers are no longer club employees & no longer allowed in restricted areas at Major League parks
perks: hotel suite on road, use of luxury suite for 5 homes games, 5 free lower box seats for each road game

5 years/$90M (2002-06)

signed 1/02
$10M signing bonus ($2.5M paid 02, $3.5M 03, $4M 04)

first 4 years/$72M guaranteed

02:$13M, 03:$13M, 04:$16M, 05:$20M, 06:$18M club option

club may void 2006 if Bonds has less than 500 PAs in 05

club may not void 2006 option if Bonds has:

950 PAs 2004-05 and at least 400 PAs 2005

$5M/year of 2002-06 salaries deferred at 3.5%, paid 07-11

$0.1M All Star award bonus

no-trade clause

10-year personal services contract begins after playing career ends, paying nearly $1M annually to the Bonds Family Foundation

San Francisco exercised 2006 option 9/04

2 years/$22.9M (1999-2000), plus 2001 club option

signed extension with San Francisco 2/97

99:$9.7M, 00:$10.7M, 01:$10.3M club option ($2.5M buyout)
$0.425M annually in performance bonuses
San Francisco exercised 2001 option 7/99

6 years/$43.75M (1993-98)

signed by San Francisco as a free agent 12/92
$2.5M signing bonus
93:$4M, 94:$4.75M, 95:$7.75M, 96:$8M, 97:$8.25M, 98:$8.5M
highest annual average salary at signing
largest-ever total package at signing
bonus for winning MVP awards

$0.1M for 1st time (won 1993)
$0.25M for 2nd time
$0.75M for 3rd time
$1M for 4th time

1 year/$4.7M (1992) (Pittsburgh)

avoided arbitration 2/92 ($5M-$4M)
$0.15M signing bonus, 92:$4.55M
one-year salary record at time of signing
hotel suite on road trips to LA, SF & San Diego (first player to be guaranteed a suite on the road)
$0.6M in award bonuses

$0.25M for MVP ($0.1M for 2nd in MVP vote)
$0.15M for World Series MVP
$0.1M for The Sporting News player of year
$0.1M for LCS MVP

1 year/$2.3M (1991)

lost arbitration ($3.25M-$2.3M)

1 year/$0.85M (1990)

lost arbitration ($1.6M-$0.85M)

1 year/$0.36M (1989)
1 year/$0.22M (1988)
1 year/$0.1M (1987)
1 year/$60,000 (1986)
drafted:

1985 (1-6) (Pittsburgh)
1982 (2-39) (San Francisco) (did not sign)

agent: Jeff Borris
ML service: 21.129

Jeff Kent 2b
Toronto 1992, New York Mets 1992-96,
Cleveland 1996, San Francisco 1997-2002,
Houston 2003-04, Los Angeles Dodgers 2005-08

1 year/$11.5M (2007), plus 2008 club option

signed extension with LA Dodgers 3/06
$2M signing bonus (paid in installments)

07:$9M, 08:$9M club option ($0.5M buyout)
2008 option guaranteed with 550 plate appearances in 2007
additional $2.35M in performance bonuses & escalators, 2007-08

2 years/$17M (2005-06)

signed by LA Dodgers as a free agent 12/04
$0.5M signing bonus

05:$7.5M, 06:$9M

2 years/$18.2M (2003-04), plus 2005 club option

signed by Houston as a free agent 12/02
$3M signing bonus
03:$6M, 04:$8.5M, 05:$9M club option ($0.7M buyout)

$10.5M deferred

03: $2M deferred to 3/1/05 & $3M deferred to 7/1/05

04: $2M deferred to 3/1/06 & $3.5M deferred to 7/1/06

$25,000 All Star award bonus
Houston declined 2005 option 10/04

3 years/$17.7M (1999-2001), plus 2002 club option

99:$5.7M, 00:$6M, 01:$6M, 02:$6M club option

2 years/$6.025M (1997-98), plus 1999 option

signed by San Francisco 1/97
97:$2.625M, 98:$3.4M

1 year/$1.96M (1996)

re-signed by NY Mets 2/96 ($2.275M-$1.5M)
acquired by Cleveland in trade from NY Mets 7/96
acquired by San Francisco in trade from Cleveland 11/96

1 year/$0.71M (1995)
1 year/$0.4375M (1994)
1 year/$0.195M (1993)

re-signed by NY Mets 1993

1 year/$0.109M (1992)

re-signed by Toronto 1992
acquired by NY Mets in trade from Toronto 8/92

drafted by Toronto 1989 (20-521) (Cal)
agent: Jeffrey Klein
ML service: 17.000 (through 2008)

Willie Mays of
New York Giants 1951-1957, San Francisco Giants 1958-1972,
New York Mets 1972-73

1 year/$170,000 (1973)
1 year/$170,000 (1972)
1 year/$170,000 (1971)
1 year/$180,000 (1970)
1 year/$180,000 (1969)
1 year/$30,000 (1955)
1 year/$12,500 (1953)
1 year/$7,500 (1952)
1 year/$5,000 (1951) (Major League minimum)
signed 1950 for $4,000 signing bonus & $250/month

# posted @ 3:22 AM

Cot's Baseball Contracts

Notable historical salaries

MLB contracts,
team-by-team

Others

Transactions

Extras

Links

Reading List

Cot's Baseball Contracts

Notable historical salaries

MLB contracts, team-by-team

Others

Transactions

Extras

Links

Reading List

MLB contracts,
team-by-team