The Atlanta Braves, like most organizations, have long avoided handing out mega contracts to superstar players because of the inherent risks that come with committing to a player for 10 or more years.

Injuries can derail everything — just look at Mike Trout, whose 12-year, $426 million contract now feels more like a burden for the Angels, even for perhaps the greatest player of his generation. There are also concerns about underperformance, as seen with Giancarlo Stanton, who has produced just one season worth more than 4 WAR during his eight-year stint with the Yankees despite earning $25 million annually on a 13-year deal.

However, when looking at the list of baseball’s biggest contracts, most of those players have more than justified their deals — proving that, in many cases, the risk of a long-term commitment can pay off handsomely.

Largest Contracts MLB History

• Juan Soto — 15 years, $765 million
• Shohei Ohtani — 10 years, $700 million
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — 14 years, $500 million
• Mike Trout — 12 years, $426 million
• Mookie Betts — 12 years, $365 million
• Aaron Judge — 9 years, $360 million
• Manny Machado — 11 years, $350 million
• Francisco Lindor — 10 years, $341 million
• Fernando Tatis Jr. — 14 years, $340 million
• Bryce Harper — 13 years, $330 million
• Corey Seager — 10 years, $325 million

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These are the ten biggest contracts ever handed out in baseball history, and while it’s too early to fully judge a few of them, it’s hard to call any an outright bad deal for the franchise.

Juan Soto nearly went 40/40 in his first season with the Mets. Shohei Ohtani has already paid off his contract twice over, delivering the Dodgers two World Series titles while generating a fortune in revenue because of his marketability. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led his team to a World Series in the first year of his new deal. Mookie Betts has helped guide the Dodgers to three championships while posting 32.7 WAR in his first six seasons in Los Angeles. Aaron Judge is the most dominant home run hitter since Barry Bonds, compiling an incredible 20.5 WAR over the last two seasons. Manny Machado has been worth 27.1 WAR through seven years with the Padres, while Francisco Lindor has been worth 27.3 in just five seasons with the Mets. Fernando Tatis Jr.’s contract now looks like a bargain, Bryce Harper’s does as well, and Corey Seager has arguably been the best shortstop in baseball since joining the Rangers, amassing 18.3 WAR over the last three years.

As contracts continue to rise across the sport, one of the clearest lessons of the past decade is that investing in star talent pays off — even when the numbers may seem daunting initially. Perhaps the success of this group might just reshape how organizations evaluate long-term deals for elite players moving forward.

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Photographer: Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire