Bryce Harper may have signed a $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies ahead of the 2019 season, but he’s only earned a portion of that sticker price so far in his tenure with the team. While the amount of money he has received is still some of the most paid to a player in franchise history, a number of others players have still earned more.
Today, Phillies Nation is going to take a look at the 10 players who have made the most estimated money as Phillies up to this point, according to Spotrac and Baseball Reference.
10. Jake Arrieta: $62,407,407
The Phillies signed Jake Arrieta to a three-year, $75 million contract before the 2018 season. The former Cy Young Award winner made $55 million through the first two seasons of his time as a member of the team, then earned an estimated $7,407,407 in prorated salary during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign before leaving in free agency.
9. J.T. Realmuto: 67,353,704
Acquired in a megadeal with the Miami Marlins prior to the 2019 season, Realmuto has arguably established himself as the best catcher in franchise history across his first five campaigns with the team. Realmuto became a free agent after the 2020 season, but ultimately returned to the Phillies in free agency on a five-year/$115.5 million deal, the largest total guarantee a catcher has ever received.
8. Roy Halladay: $75,800,000
The Toronto Blue Jays paid for $6 million of Halladay’s 2010 salary after trading him to the Phillies. This left the Phillies paying the remaining $15.75 million for that historic season where Halladay threw two no-hitters and won the NL Cy Young Award. Halladay signed a three-year extension worth $60 million for 2011-2013, also earning $50,000 in incentives.
7. Zack Wheeler: $80,962,963
The recipient of a five-year, $118 million dollar contract before the 2020 season, Wheeler received a prorated salary of just under $8 million in his first year in Philadelphia because of the pandemic-shortened season. The right-hander earned $22.5 million in 2021 as he finished in National League Cy Young Award voting and $26 million in 2022. After another strong campaign in 2023, Wheeler appears in line for an even more lucrative extension.
6. Jimmy Rollins: $87,790,000
A second-round pick by the team in 1996, Rollins spent 15 seasons with the Phillies. The former shortstop signed two major extensions during his career, worth a total of $73 million. Rollins became the franchise leader in hits in 2014, and was traded to the Dodgers after that season, with the Phillies still paying $1 million of his salary in 2015.
5. Cole Hamels: $103,416,345
Hamels received a $2 million signing bonus after being selected in the first round of the 2002 draft by the Phillies. 10 years later, the 2008 World Series MVP got another big payday, signing a six-year, $144 million extension with the team in 2012. Hamels was later traded — along with Jake Diekman and cash considerations — to the Texas Rangers in 2015.
4. Bryce Harper: $118,279,629
Harper will one day sit atop the leaderboard in career earnings for a Phillies player, but that day is not upon us yet. Through five seasons in Philadelphia, Harper has outproduced his yearly salary on his way to the 2021 NL MVP and 2022 NLCS MVP trophies. He received $30 million in salary and signing bonus in his first season, an estimated $9,629,629 in prorated salary in 2020 and around $26 million in salary and incentives from 2021-2023.
3. Chase Utley: $119,278,257
Another first-rounder, Utley signed for $1.78 million after being selected by the Phillies in the 2000 draft. He agreed to two major extensions with the team in his career for a total of $112 million. Utley was traded to the Dodgers during the 2015 season. The Phillies paid for $2 million of his salary the next season.
2. Cliff Lee: $122,227,500
The Phillies paid for about a third of Lee’s salary in 2009 after receiving him in a trade from Cleveland. Although he helped the team reach its second World Series in two years, the Phillies dealt Lee to the Seattle Mariners after that season. Lee would return to Philadelphia as a free agent before the 2011 season, signing for five years and $120 million.
1. Ryan Howard: $190,585,000
Howard was the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year, the 2006 NL MVP and a key part of the 2008 World Series team. The Phillies rewarded him for those accomplishments with a five-year, $125 million extension in 2010. However, this extension did not kick in until 2012, the season after Howard tore his Achilles tendon. Although he was never quite the same player following that injury, Howard remained with the Phillies through the 2016 season until his contract extension expired and earned $10 million in 2017 when the Phillies declined his $23 million option for that season.
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Phillies Nation‘s Tim Kelly and Destiny Lugardo contributed to this piece.
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