Big Baseball Contracts Gone Wrong
Is Giancarlo Stanton's $325 million deal next on this list?
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Giancarlo Stanton Signs Record-Setting $325 Million Deal With Marlins - Giancarlo Stanton inked his signature on a mammoth 13-year, $325 million contract with the Miami Marlins last week and the deal marks the most lucrative contract in major North American sports history. Whether it turns out to be a productive one for the Marlins remains to be seen. Although there's never been a contract quite like this in sports history, it's one of many big baseball contracts. If the Marlins are fortunate, it will go well. If they're not, they're going to end up in one of the following situations. BET.com points out what happens when big baseball contracts go wrong.(Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
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Albert Pujols's $240 Million Deal With the Los Angeles Angels - When the Los Angeles Angels signed Albert Pujols to a 10-year, $240 million deal in 2012, he was just coming off a 37-homer, 99-RBI season with the St. Louis Cardinals. But he was still 32-years-old and the Angels were banking on him staying healthy and being productive until he's 42. Look, we're not saying this is a full-blown deal gone wrong yet, but it has shown a trajectory of possibly turning into one. In 2013, Pujols's power numbers dipped dramatically to 17 home runs and 64 RBI with a paltry .258 batting average. Although he increased that to .272 with 28 homers and 105 RBI this past season, his best days look behind him. And the Angels are on the hook for seven more years. Wow. (Photo: Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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Josh Hamilton's $125 Million Contract With the Los Angeles Angels - Like Albert Pujols, the Los Angeles Angels signed Josh Hamilton during the 2012 offseason with lightning coming off his bat. Hamilton had smashed 43 home runs with 128 RBI for the Texas Rangers in 2012 before inking a five-year, $125 million deal with the Angels. Immediately, the 31-year-old's numbers dropped. Okay, we're being nice. It was more like a free fall. Hamilton mustered 21 home runs and 79 RBI in 2013 and 10 long balls and 44 RBI in 2014 while battling injury. Three more years...gulp.(Photo: Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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Mark Teixeira's $180 Million Deal With the New York Yankees - Mark Teixeira has never been able to give the New York Yankees the full bang for their buck on the eight-year, $180 million deal he inked with them in 2008. While the first three years of the contract started out strong, battles with various injuries have rocked the hulking first baseman and reduced not only the amount of games he has played, but his overall production.(Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)
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Alex Rodriguez's $275 Million Contract With the New York Yankees - Is there a better example of a big baseball contract gone wrong than Alex Rodriguez's 10-year, $275 million extension with the New York Yankees in 2007. Not only did it overtake the $252 million deal he inked with the Texas Rangers in 2000, but it would also shatter the previous agreement in terms of notoriety too. Although A-Rod started off well, his contract turned into a nightmare due to a combination of health issues and the third baseman's illegal use of performance-enhancing drugs. The latter led to A-Rod being suspended by the MLB for the entire 2014 season. Worse off, the Bronx Bombers still owe him up to $73 million over the next three years. Good grief! (Photo: AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Photo By Kathy Willens/AP Photo
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