If working smarter and not harder were a person it may just be Major League Baseball legend Ken Griffey Jr.

According to Fox Business, although Griffey has not played in a professional game since the 2010 season, he is still one of the highest-paid Cincinnati Reds players today.

A True Playmaker

What’s even more surprising is that the last time he played was actually with the Seattle Mariners (2009-2010). However, the Reds still owe him a paycheck for the current season.

The Baseball Hall of Fame reports that Griffey was initially drafted into the majors as a first pick in 1987 by the Seattle Mariners. He would go on to play for the West Coast team for 11 years before he joined the Reds in 2000.

The Contract That Changed It All

In 2000, Griffey was traded to the Reds where he landed the contract that he is still reaping the benefits of today.

The deal, worth $112.5 million, was to span the course of nine years, “and he would get deferred payment from 2009 to 2024,” Fox Business reports.

What may be even more legendary is the fact that after his trade to the Reds, Griffey went on to play for the Chicago White Sox and back to Seattle, before announcing his retirement in 2010.

According to Spotrac, he’s expected to bring in $3.6 million from the Reds in 2023, which will make him the fourth player with the largest salary within the organization.

Griffey's MLB Career

Griffey was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016 and finished his MLB career as a 13-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner, and a one-time American League MVP, USA TODAY reported.

Other Notable MLB Deals

As previously reported by AfroTech, another famous MLB player repeating the benefits of a pretty impressive contract includes former New York Mets player Bobby Bonilla who still receives a $1.2 million paycheck from the team every year.

It looks like retirement is treating both of these former MLB players extremely well.