Analyzing MLB’s Most Burdensome Contracts for Every Team in 2026
Filmogaz.com examines MLB deals and flags the most burdensome contracts for AL East clubs heading into 2026. This series evaluates the most burdensome contracts for every team in the division.
AL East snapshot
Payroll commitments and on-field results rarely match perfectly. These five contracts stand out for their cost and questionable returns.
Toronto Blue Jays — Andrés Giménez
Giménez signed a seven-year pact worth $106.5 million, with a $23 million club option for 2030. He still carries $86.3 million in remaining guarantees through 2030.
Toronto shifted him from second base to shortstop late last season when Bo Bichette suffered a left knee sprain. Bichette then signed with the New York Mets, handing Giménez the shortstop job to open 2026.
He won three Gold Glove Awards from 2022–2024 and captured the 2023 Platinum Glove as the American League’s top defender at second. Offensively, his OPS has slipped from .837 in 2022 to .657 since then, making him an expensive defensive asset with below-average bat production.
New York Yankees — Ryan McMahon
McMahon is under a six-year, $70 million contract with $32 million left through 2027. The Yankees acquired him in a July trade from the Colorado Rockies.
He hit .208 with a .641 OPS after the move. He posted 10 defensive runs saved at third base between the Rockies and Yankees in 2025.
McMahon struggled badly against left-handed pitching last year. He hit .184 with 41 strikeouts in 114 at-bats against southpaws, suggesting a platoon role is likely despite the remaining salary.
Boston Red Sox — Masataka Yoshida
Yoshida carries a five-year, $90 million deal with $37.2 million still owed through 2027. He has performed well for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
However, his MLB production has disappointed. FanGraphs credits him with just 1.5 WAR across his first three big-league seasons.
Defensively, he posted minus-four DRS and minus-eight outs above average in left during his rookie year. The Red Sox have since used him largely as a designated hitter, with only 45 outfield innings over the past two seasons.
Boston has a crowded outfield and plans to open the year with Jarren Duran as primary DH. Front office choices for Craig Breslow are to keep Yoshida as an expensive bench option or facilitate a trade that likely nets minimal return.
Tampa Bay Rays — Gavin Lux
Lux is on a one-year deal worth $5.525 million, fully guaranteed through 2026. The Rays’ low-spending model frames the signing as modest risk.
He is a two-time World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Across parts of six seasons, though, he owns a .713 OPS at the plate.
In 2025 he struggled offensively despite some hitter-friendly home parks. He finished with minus-five DRS in left field and minus-four DRS at second base, showing defensive inconsistency.
Baltimore Orioles — Tyler O’Neill
O’Neill’s contract spans three years and $49.5 million, with $33 million remaining through 2027. He homered on Opening Day in 2025 for the sixth time in his career.
After that, injuries limited him to 53 more games. Over 209 plate appearances he hit .199 with a 92 OPS+, well below league average.
He declined to opt out of the final two seasons. Historically, O’Neill offers strong defense and big numbers versus left-handed pitching, but injuries and recent performance push him toward bench duty on a deeper Orioles roster.
Filmogaz.com will continue tracking how these contracts shape each team’s 2026 outlook. Payroll and production remain at odds across the division.
