At $25.2 million per year, A-Rod was the highest paid player in baseball until his contract was up in 2010. Then he signed a new contract, breaking his own record. See how much he makes now and who else is in his elite company. While all these deals are structured differently, we used an average annual salary to compile this list. — Source: Cot's Baseball Contracts

A-Rod broke his own record as highest paid player (annually and overall contract) when he and the Yankees agreed in December 2007 to a 10-year, $275 million contract. That's $27.5 million per year.

See who's the highest paid player at each position and which players are in MLB's $100 million club.

The Phillies slugger signed a five-year, $125 million extension in April 2010. He now makes $25 million per year.

Rather than test the free-agent market in 2011, CC Sabathia opted to sign a big extension with the Yankees. Sabathia’s guaranteed money went from $92 million over the last four years on his deal ($23 million per year) to $122 million over five ($24.4 million per year). That’s a $30 million windfall for Sabathia. New York has a $25 million option for 2017 with a $5 million buyout.

The Los Angeles Angels shocked the baseball world at the winter meetings in 2011, reaching an agreement with free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols on a 10-year contract that will be worth $240 million, guaranteed. The slugger's deal includes a personal-services agreement worth at least $10 million and Pujols, 31, received a full no-trade clause. The total value of his contract is the second-highest in major league history, behind Alex Rodriguez’s 10-year, $275 million deal. For the playing portion of his contract, he'll be making an average of $24 million per year.

The Phillies landed the prize free agent of the offseason, signing ace lefty Cliff Lee to a five-year, $120 million contract in December 2010. In 2009 Lee was with the Phillies, who traded him to the Mariners, who then traded him to the Rangers. The Phillies won't let him get away again; he's under contract until 2015.
 

One of the hottest free agents after the 2011 season, Prince Fielder landed a mega-deal with the Detroit Tigers in January 2012 for nine years, $214 million. The 27-year-old had previously played his entire seven-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Twins extended their All-Star catcher through 2018 after he was named the 2009 AL MVP. The homegrown pride of St. Paul had an injury-plagued off year for the struggling Twins in 2011 but was still the ultimate team player, filling in at first base and even playing a game in right field.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner agreed to a six-year, $137.5 million contract with the Mets in February 2008. He's under contract through 2013.

On April 2, 2012, Votto, the 2010 NL MVP, signed a 10-year, $225 million deal that includes the two years he was already signed for. It was the fourth largest deal in MLB history and Votto became the third first baseman in four months to eclipse the $200 million mark, following Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. Votto is locked in through 2023.

The Yankees first baseman, who in 2009 shared the AL lead in home runs and led outright in RBI, agreed in December 2008 to an eight-year deal worth $180 million. He's under contract through 2016.