Team: New York Yankees
Agent: Scott Boras
2009 Salary: $32,000,000
2009 Bonuses: $1,000,0000
2009 Endorsements: $1,500,000
TOTAL: $34,500,000
The Score: The best player in baseball couldn’t have started the year worse: a marital breakup, a hip injury, and then his admission that he used steroids earlier in his career. These revelations, particularly the latter, undermined his marketing appeal—with his winning looks and historic talent, he should be doing much better. (Nike was a mainstay; he also did a Guitar Hero spot.) A clutch World Series could help rehabilitate his image. Regardless, his $275 million contract, which runs through 2017, cures any financial ills.