Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers has the richest catcher contract (by total value). Smith signed a 10-year, $140-million extension with Los Angeles ahead of the 2024 season, buying out his final two arbitration years. However, in typical Dodgers fashion, Smith will be paid $5 million annually from 2034-2043 in deferred payments, lowering the luxury tax hit to just $12 million annually. The deferred payments, expected to be a hot-button topic in ongoing labor talks, paired with Smith being paid through his age-38 season, make the comparison a bit far-fetched.
