There aren’t as many candidates for MLB’s worst deals in 2026 as there have been in recent seasons. Some of that is due to front offices being more cautious in free agency.
It’s also worth noting that several that appeared on this list in recent years have now come off the books.
There may be fewer truly crippling contracts than there were three, four, or five years ago, but there are still plenty of overpaid players with significant time remaining on the books.
Here is a look at the worst heading into 2026.
1. Kris Bryant – $27 million
Kris Bryant has played 170 games and produced -1.7 bWAR since signing with the Rockies in the 2021–22 offseason. Including his $27 million salary in 2026, he is still owed $81 million by Colorado.
The former MVP might never play for the Rockies again. A chronic lumbar degenerative disc condition causes significant pain when he runs and could force him to retire before this agreement expires.
It would be a difficult ending to what once looked like a Cooperstown-worthy career. From a value standpoint, this ranks among the five or six worst deals in MLB history.
2. Xander Bogaerts – $25 million
This became one of the worst salary obligations in baseball the moment it was signed. San Diego gave Xander Bogaerts an 11-year, $280 million contract in December 2022, keeping him with the club through his age-40 season.
He is owed $25,454,546 annually through 2033. Since the start of the 2024 season, Bogaerts has posted a 96 OPS+ and hit just 22 home runs across the 2024 and 2025 campaigns.
There is still a long way to go on this commitment. With a full no-trade clause, the Padres are set up for a difficult stretch at the back end of this decade and into the 2030s.
3. Anthony Rendon – $38.5 million
Rendon’s $38.5 million salary for 2026 will be paid out in equal installments of $7.6 million annually through 2030, according to MLB Trade Rumors. For this purpose, we’re ignoring the deferrals, as that was his original salary for the season.
It’s difficult to overstate how poor this deal has been. The only reason it ranks third is because it’s nearly off the books.
Rendon and the Angels have agreed to part ways, though the former All-Star has not officially retired. After producing 2.2 bWAR during the shortened 2020 season, Rendon has totaled just 1.7 bWAR since, along with an 86 OPS+.
4. Aaron Nola – $24.5 million
Nola’s Stuff+ dropped from 112 in 2024 to 102 in 2025. The veteran right-hander posted a 4.13 xERA, his worst mark since 2019, and is owed $24,571,429 annually through 2030.
His fastball velocity also dipped by 0.6 mph year over year. Those trends are concerning for a pitcher entering his age-33 season and help explain why teams are typically cautious with long-term deals for starters.
Nola remains a reasonable value if he can continue to eat innings at a league-average level. The concern is that he has posted an ERA+ below 100 in three of the past five seasons.
5. J.T. Realmuto – $15 million
A three-year, $15 million deal for a catcher entering his age-35 season is too much, even with Realmuto’s track record.
The former All-Star has seen clear declines in both bat speed and sprint speed over the past couple of years. He also graded poorly as a framer and blocker in 2025 and posted his worst OPS+ since 2015.
Missing out on Bo Bichette appeared to push the Phillies into overpaying for Realmuto. It’s not crippling for a big-market team, but it’s still a poor deal.
6. Andrés Giménez – $15 million
It’s not the $15 million in 2026 that hurts the Blue Jays with Giménez. The real concern comes from the $23.5 million he’s owed annually from 2027 through 2029, along with a $2.5 million buyout on the 2030 team option.
Giménez remains an elite defender, but his speed declined sharply in 2025, and a player on a deal like this can’t be producing a 66 OPS+.
The outlook changes significantly if he returns to the 96 OPS+ level he reached in 2023.
7. Dansby Swanson – $28 million
Swanson has a 102 OPS+ over his three seasons as a Cub. He is owed $109 million from 2026 through 2029.
This isn’t an awful deal given the value of Swanson’s defense and his WAR production. Still, an annual salary near $30 million is steep for a league-average hitter, especially after he recorded the second-lowest walk rate of his career.
As he moves further into his 30s, there’s a chance Swanson regresses defensively. If that happens, he could struggle to be more than a two-win player.
8. Christian Walker – $20 million
The Astros weren’t expecting a 97 OPS+ when they signed Walker to a three-year, $60 million deal last winter. The downside is somewhat limited by the agreement’s length, but it’s fair to question how else Houston could have allocated that money.
A high strikeout rate paired with a low walk rate in 2025 is concerning. Walker went from being an almost elite hitter to producing a far more ordinary Savant profile, with a noticeable drop in bat speed.
After what he showed in 2025, the Astros would likely be satisfied with two more league-average offensive seasons.
9. Javier Báez – $24 million
Báez posted an 87 OPS+ in a modest offensive bounceback in 2025, but his underlying metrics remained poor, including a second-percentile xwOBA.
His defense has helped him retain some value, though his sprint speed has declined from a strength to roughly average. He has been worth just 3.9 bWAR during his time in Detroit.
This deal always looked likely to age poorly, and that’s exactly how it has played out. At least for the Tigers, it expires at the end of 2027.
10. Jung Hoo Lee – $23.25 million
Injury limited Lee to 37 games as a rookie. Despite a 110 OPS+, he was worth only 1.7 bWAR in 2025, largely due to concerns about his defense in center field.
Lee has been moved to right field for 2026, with Harrison Bader taking over in center for the Giants. It’s not an ideal fit for Lee offensively, as he ranked in the 10th percentile in barrel rate last season and hit just eight home runs.
On the bases, 10 steals was a modest return for a player known for contact, defense, and speed. As things stand, it appears unlikely he’ll opt out after the 2027 season, leaving San Francisco on the hook for $88.3 million through 2029.
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