10 biggest reliever contracts in baseball history
After getting married over the weekend, Kenley Jansen received quite a wedding gift from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, agreeing to a five-year deal worth $80 million, making him the second-richest reliever in the history of baseball, behind Aroldis Chapman, who agreed to a five-year deal of his own with the New York Yankees on Dec. 7.
Chapman, Jansen, and Mark Melancon - who signed a four-year agreement with the San Francisco Giants on Dec. 5 - have all agreed to deals this offseason worth more than the previous reliever high of Jonathan Papelbon, who secured a four-year, $50-million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2011.
Here are the ten richest relievers in baseball history, based on total value of the deal.
| PITCHER | TEAM | LENGTH | VALUE | YEAR SIGNED |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aroldis Chapman | Yankees | 5 years | $86M | 2016 |
| Kenley Jansen | Dodgers | 5 years | $80M | 2016 |
| Mark Melancon | Giants | 4 years | $62M | 2016 |
| Jonathan Papelbon | Phillies | 4 years | $50M | 2011 |
| B.J. Ryan | Blue Jays | 5 years | $47M | 2005 |
| David Robertson | White Sox | 4 years | $46M | 2014 |
| Francisco Cordero | Reds | 4 years | $46M | 2007 |
| Mariano Rivera | Yankees | 3 years | $45M | 2007 |
| Billy Wagner | Mets | 4 years | $43M | 2005 |
| Craig Kimbrel | Braves | 4 years | $42M | 2014 |
Chapman, Jansen, and Melancon combined to save 130 games for their respective clubs last season, while Robertson - who has saved 71 games over the past two seasons - is frequently being mentioned in trade talks as the White Sox turn towards a rebuild.