Meet the man whose salary dwarfs those of Ronaldo and Bryant
Giancarlo Stanton hits jackpot with 13-year, £208m deal with Miami Marlins but slugger says richest contract ever is 'no lottery ticket'.
The Miami Marlins signed slugging outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to a record 13-year, £208million ($325m) deal on Wednesday, the most lucrative player contract in US sports history.
The deal trumps the two previous highest contracts in baseball. Miguel Cabrera was given a £186m ($291m) deal over 10 years with the Detroit Tigers in March 2014 and Alex Rodriguez bagged a £176m ($275m) deal over a decade with New York Yankees in 2008.
Stanton's deal also trumps sport's other heavyweight earners in terms of length; Floyd Mayweather bagged £131.5m ($206m) for six fights over a 30-month period and LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant earned himself a deal worth £86m ($136m) over seven years in 2004.
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo estimated salary of £33.2m is upped by £17.9m in endorsements, but his contract ends in four years time.
In ice hockey, The Capital's Alexander 'the Great' Ovechkin broke the NHL's £100m deal without an agent at just 22, landing $124m from 2009 to 2021.
But despite the deal which could take Stanton through to 2027, the right-hander says he doesn't feel like he has won the lottery.
'Everyone wants to talk about the record-breaking deal but I want records on the field, I want to do things on the field and that's what it is all about,' two-time All-Star Stanton told a news conference.
'This isn't a lottery ticket and peace out. This is the start of new work and a new job for this city. It is a huge responsibility and one I am willing to take,' the 25-year-old added.
The Marlins, owned by New York-based art dealer Jeffrey Loria, hope Stanton can help mend shattered relations between the team and disillusioned fans after a widely criticised taxpayer funded deal to build a new ballpark.
The team has also drawn ire for gutting its roster in recent years and revealing millions in profits after lobbying for public funds.
The ballpark deal led voters to out the sitting mayor in 2010 and has been a black eye for professional sports in Miami, souring recent efforts by retired former Manchester United and England star David Beckham to launch a Major League Soccer team in the city.
'If the Marlins become contenders, much of the bad blood could begin to wash away,' a Miami Herald editorial said on Wednesday.
The Marlins (77-85) last season ranked 27 out of Major League Baseball's 30 teams in attendance, attracting about 21,000 fans per game, according to ESPN.com.
The deal includes a no-trade clause and allows Stanton, who led the National League with 37 home runs last season, to opt out after six years, Loria told MLB.com.
A second-round pick by the Marlins in the 2007 draft, Stanton is now among the most feared hitters in baseball, pounding 154 career homers despite playing in the spacious Marlins Park.
This year Stanton earned his first Silver Slugger Award and became the first Marlins player to win the Hank Aaron Award, which recognizes each league's top offensive player and is decided by a panel of Hall of Famers.
The deal trumps the two previous highest contracts in baseball. Miguel Cabrera was given a £186m ($291m) deal over 10 years with the Detroit Tigers in March 2014 and Alex Rodriguez bagged a £176m ($275m) deal over a decade with New York Yankees in 2008.
Stanton's deal also trumps sport's other heavyweight earners in terms of length; Floyd Mayweather bagged £131.5m ($206m) for six fights over a 30-month period and LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant earned himself a deal worth £86m ($136m) over seven years in 2004.
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo estimated salary of £33.2m is upped by £17.9m in endorsements, but his contract ends in four years time.
In ice hockey, The Capital's Alexander 'the Great' Ovechkin broke the NHL's £100m deal without an agent at just 22, landing $124m from 2009 to 2021.
But despite the deal which could take Stanton through to 2027, the right-hander says he doesn't feel like he has won the lottery.
'Everyone wants to talk about the record-breaking deal but I want records on the field, I want to do things on the field and that's what it is all about,' two-time All-Star Stanton told a news conference.
'This isn't a lottery ticket and peace out. This is the start of new work and a new job for this city. It is a huge responsibility and one I am willing to take,' the 25-year-old added.
The Marlins, owned by New York-based art dealer Jeffrey Loria, hope Stanton can help mend shattered relations between the team and disillusioned fans after a widely criticised taxpayer funded deal to build a new ballpark.
The team has also drawn ire for gutting its roster in recent years and revealing millions in profits after lobbying for public funds.
The ballpark deal led voters to out the sitting mayor in 2010 and has been a black eye for professional sports in Miami, souring recent efforts by retired former Manchester United and England star David Beckham to launch a Major League Soccer team in the city.
'If the Marlins become contenders, much of the bad blood could begin to wash away,' a Miami Herald editorial said on Wednesday.
The Marlins (77-85) last season ranked 27 out of Major League Baseball's 30 teams in attendance, attracting about 21,000 fans per game, according to ESPN.com.
The deal includes a no-trade clause and allows Stanton, who led the National League with 37 home runs last season, to opt out after six years, Loria told MLB.com.
A second-round pick by the Marlins in the 2007 draft, Stanton is now among the most feared hitters in baseball, pounding 154 career homers despite playing in the spacious Marlins Park.
This year Stanton earned his first Silver Slugger Award and became the first Marlins player to win the Hank Aaron Award, which recognizes each league's top offensive player and is decided by a panel of Hall of Famers.
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