Big spenders at Philadelphia Phillis

Before the 2019 season, Bryce Harper inked a $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, but during his time with the franchise, he has only received a percentage of that asking price. Some players have still made more money than him, even if the sum he has gotten is still among the most paid to a player in franchise history.

Today, Spotrac and Baseball Reference will be used by Phillies Nation to examine the ten players who, as of right now, have earned the highest estimated salaries while playing for the Phillies.

Jake Arrieta’s total: $62,407,407

Before the 2018 season, Jake Arrieta signed a three-year, $75 million contract with the Phillies. After making $55 million in his first two seasons as a member of the franchise, the former Cy Young Award winner made an estimated $7,407,407 in prorated salary during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season before departing in free agency.

Realmuto, J.T.: 67,353,704

Realmuto was acquired by the Miami Marlins in a massive trade before the 2019 season, and in his first five seasons with the team, he has all but proven to be the best catcher in franchise history. After the 2020 season, Realmuto became a free agent. However, he eventually signed a five-year, $115.5 million contract with the Phillies in free agency, which was the biggest total guarantee ever given to a catcher.

$70.262,963 is Zack Wheeler’s total.

Wheeler signed a five-year, $118 million contract prior to the 2020 campaign; but, due to the pandemic-shortened season, he was paid a prorated amount of less than $8 million in his first season in Philadelphia. After placing third in the National League Cy Young Award voting in 2021, the right-hander made $22.5 million, and in 2022, he made $26 million. Wheeler has a good chance of receiving an even more lucrative extension in 2023 following another successful campaign.

Jimmy Rollins, sixth place: $87,790,000

Rollins, a 1996 second-round selection of the franchise, played for the Phillies for fifteen seasons. During his career, the former shortstop inked two significant contracts totaling $73 million. After leading the team in hits in 2014, Rollins was transferred to the Dodgers; the Phillies continued to fund $1 million of his salary in 2015.

$103,416,345; Cole Hamels

The Phillies selected Hamels in the first round of the 2002 draft, and he was given a $2 million signing bonus. Ten years later, in 2012, the 2008 World Series MVP signed a six-year, $144 million contract extension with the organization, earning him even another large salary. In 2015, the Texas Rangers acquired Hamels in exchange for Jake Diekman and monetary considerations.

$118,279,629 to Bryce Harper

Though that day is still a ways off, Harper will eventually top the list of Phillies players’ career earnings. Harper has outperformed his yearly salary over his five seasons in Philadelphia, winning the 2021 and 2022 NL MVP and NLCS MVP awards. In his first season, he was paid $30 million in pay and signing bonus; in 2020, he was paid an estimated $9,629,629 in prorated income; and in 2021–2023, he was paid about $26 million in salary and incentives.

$119,278,257 is Chase Utley.

The Phillies picked Utley in the first round of the 2000 draft, and he signed a $1.78 million contract. Over the course of his career, he consented to two significant extensions with the franchise, totaling $112 million. In the 2015 season, Utley was traded to the Dodgers. The following season, the Phillies covered $2 million of his salary.

Cliff Lee’s total: $122,227,500

After Lee was traded from Cleveland to the Phillies in 2009, the Phillies covered around one-third of his salary. After that season, the Phillies traded Lee to the Seattle Mariners, despite the fact that he assisted the team in winning its second World Series in two years. Before the 2011 season, Lee would return to Philadelphia as a free agent and ink a $120 million, five-year contract.

$190,585,000 for Ryan Howard

A vital member of the 2008 World Series squad, Howard was the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year and the 2006 NL MVP. In 2010, the Phillies gave him a $125 million, five-year contract extension as compensation for his achievements. But this deal didn’t start until 2012—the year when Howard had an Achilles tendon tear. The Phillies kept Howard after that injury, and he never really recovered. In 2016, Howard’s contract extension expired, and he made $10 million when the Phillies rejected his $23 million option for that season.