5 worst MLB contracts heading into 2022

2. Robinson Cano

Robinson Cano‘s ten year, $204 million contract was considered an albatross that the Mariners would have to wear. Then the Mets came along and took it off their hands as part of the cost to acquire Edwin Diaz.

Cano has been solid when he has been on the diamond. He has been one of the better hitting second basemen in MLB history and still has an outside chance to reach the 3000 hit plateau. The problem is that he has been suspended twice for failed PED tests during this deal, including the entire 2021 season.

Now Cano is a giant question mark. Due another $48 million over the next two seasons, and already 39 years old, it is impossible to expect that he will be the player he once was. In fact, it is impossible to even know what type of player he will be given his struggles in 2019 and the fact that he lost an entire season.

1. Anthony Rendon

As it currently stands, Anthony Rendon will be the third highest paid MLB player in 2022. He moves up the salary standings in 2023, as he will be the second highest paid player in the league at that point.

He was expected to be a key part of the Angels lineup when he signed his seven year deal worth $245 million prior to the 2020 season. While he lived up to expectations in 2020, he struggled through an injury plagued 2021 campaign, appearing to be a shell of himself when he was on the diamond.

This leaves Rendon as a giant question mark moving forward. The Angels need him to be the powerful run producer he had been. Meanwhile, they need his defense to return to the form he had displayed in Washington. But neither outcome can be guaranteed. As he is due another $190.9 million over the next five years, he could easily fall apart.

It is entirely possible that Anthony Rendon will not be on this list next season. For now, he has the worst contract currently in MLB.