I think professional athletes are not overpaid, and here is why… There have been many American athletes who have signed really big contracts. Including Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, and most of all… Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani signed a contract for 700 million dollars for 10 years. Making it the largest contract in sports history, not North American sports, but sports. Worldwide! However, the contract was deferred to make more money to sign more star players for the Dodgers. Like Japanese right-hander Yoshinobo Yamamoto. Who played on Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic last year? According to mlb.com, there is a list of the Top 10 largest contracts in MLB history. With a lot being a tie. Including Max Scherzer, signing with the Mets last year, (and was traded shortly after) a contract of around $43 Million, and Justin Verlander (who was then traded back to his original team, the Houston Astros. With a contract the same as Scherzers… $43 Million. Another example is Stephen Strassburg and Anthony Rendon, both their contracts were at $35 Million for 6 years. Anthony Rendon’s contract was one that has worked out terribly, he has barely played due to injuries and when he does, he is not that great.

“Total Value isn’t the only way to look at player contracts, as the length of the deal also matters”.

MLB Reporter David Adler from MLB.com based in New York 

  https://www.mlb.com/news/largest-contracts-in-mlb-history-c300060780