{"id":50508,"date":"2019-06-26T21:36:18","date_gmt":"2019-06-26T21:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportscroll.com\/?p=50508"},"modified":"2019-10-29T22:32:45","modified_gmt":"2019-10-29T22:32:45","slug":"top-50-sports-contracts-for-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.sportscroll.com\/top-50-sports-contracts-for-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 50 Sports Contracts For 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Athlete contracts for the biggest stars in major sports are skyrocketing. It seems like many of the wallet-busting deals signed these days are record-breaking agreements.<\/p>\n
That’s the natural progression of sports of course, as teams and their owners bring in more and more revenue year-by-year. But it’s not always the case, as some contracts, mainly in Major League Baseball (MLB) have been absolutely monstrous for many years. The National Basketball Association (NBA) has only recently begun catching up with their lavish Super Max deals.<\/p>\n
In comparison to the damage done, National Football League (NFL) stars are paid relatively little. True, their seasons are much shorter than MLB or the NBA, but they put their bodies and brains at more risk. Regardless, some of their biggest contracts have made our list of the 50 biggest contracts in sports history. As a disclaimer, many soccer and other sports stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would be on this list, but their contract details are not fully disclosed.<\/p>\n
With that established, let’s check out the 50 biggest contracts in sports history…<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Lillard signed a five-year contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers from 2016-2021 in July 2015. The deal was for a total of $139,888,44, averaging $27,977,689 a season and $341,191.33 per regular season game.<\/p>\n
He’s been worth every penny as the clear-cut star in Portland. His dagger of a three-point shot that knocked the Denver Nuggets out of this year’s NBA playoffs proves it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Wilson recently made NFL football history by signing a four-year, $140 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks in April 2019. The deal included a staggering $64 million signing bonus and a staggering, NFL-record $107 million in guaranteed money. He’ll average $35 million a year and $546,875 per game.<\/p>\n
He deserves it, as Wilson has won a Super Bowl, made it to two Super Bowls, and started every single game for Seattle since he was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft. Despite running for his life in recent years, Wilson is the most important player on the team and got paid like it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After tearing it up with the Tamp Bay Devils Rays from 2002-2010, Boston offered Crawford a seven-year contract worth $142,000,000. It averaged $20,285,714 per season and $125,220.46 per game.<\/p>\n
This deal did not work out. Crawford spent two injury-plagued, underperforming years in Boston, calling the city a “toxic” environment that had sent him into a “depression” stage. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers and retired after the 2016 season.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hamels signed a six-year, $144,000,000 extension in July 2012. The deal averaged a year $24,000,000 and $148,148.15 per game.<\/p>\n
The deal did not last long. Hamels threw his way to an 8-14 record with a 3.60 ERA in 220 innings and 202 strikeouts in 2013, not the stuff of a $24 million man. He was traded to the Texas Rangers on July 31, 2015. He was then traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2018, where he currently plays.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Real Madrid announced a move to acquire Bale in September 2013. The transfer fee was a then-record 100.8 million Euros. He then signed a monstrous six-year, $146,280,000 contract that averaged $24,380,000 per season and $406,333.33 per contest.<\/p>\n
He has since experienced some injuries in recent years but was able to help Real Madrid win the La Liga title in 2017 (their 33rd<\/sup>) and the UEFA Champions League Final in 2017 and 2018.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Greinke signed a six-year, $147,000,000 deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers in late 2012 that averaged $24,500,000 a season and $151,234.57 per game. At the time, it was the biggest in MLB history for a right-handed pitcher. He delivered on that deal but didn’t pitch out his full contract.<\/p>\n He opted out of the final three years of the agreement after a stellar 2015 season. Greinke was named the Outstanding National League Pitcher at the Players Choice Awards before signing another massive deal on this list to be discussed later.<\/p>\n45. Zack Greinke – Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball:<\/h3>\n