Major League Baseball (MLB) has experienced a lot of performance enhancing drug (PED) use in the past 20 years. Most of the players who have used PEDs have been suspended, and some have evaded detection and later admitted to PED use. But, before their suspensions, a good number of these players signed massive contracts, sometimes exceeding $200 million. What these players prove is the sad truth that cheating pays off.

There have been many small time names to use PEDs, who really didn’t get much money or have good careers. This list is mainly comprised of bench players, with the likes of Eliezer Alfonzo, JC Romero, and Freddy Galvis.

A lot of big time name players have used PEDs. The list includes Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Rafael Palmeiro, who all had Hall of Fame worthy careers. Despite the fact that they did cheat, any player that plays any professional sport has to have a natural skill for it. One of the most known names to have recently used PEDs is none other than Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.

Rodriguez broke into the majors with the Mariners, and had a great early career before hitting free agency following the 2000 season. He signed a contract with the Rangers worth $25.2 million per year over 10 years ($252 million total). Then, the cheating started. In 2004, he was traded to the New York Yankees, and opted out of his huge contract after the 2007 season, leading him to enter free agency yet again. This time, he signed an even larger contract worth $27.5 million a year over 10 years ($275 million total). Suspicion of him using PEDs had only gotten larger over the years, and he eventually admitted to using PEDs in 3 different seasons while on the Rangers. Now, he is facing a 211 game suspension because he was involved with the Biogenesis clinic, which was selling PEDs to MLB players, including Rodriguez. Rodriguez is now appealing the suspension, which will most likely be upheld. After which, he will have to sit out all of the 2014 season and almost half of the 2015 season, forfeiting his pay for that time, which is roughly $37 million. The punishment more than fits the crime, as the usual suspension for PED users is 50 games for first offense, 100 for second, and 150 for third. If you are caught a fourth time, then you are banned from the MLB for life.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun currently has a contract that runs through 2020, and will pay him $18.43 million per year ($129 million total). He has admitted to taking PEDs and has served a 60 game suspension. Originally, after his 2011 MVP season, he tested positive PEDs, and was given a 50 game suspension. But, before the season started, his suspension was overturned, and Braun came out with a statement in which he swore to God that he never had and never would use PEDs. And now, 2 short years later, he recently gave a statement saying that he lied in his previous statement.

Some players have made just as much money as Rodriguez or Braun and, as far as we know, have done it legitimately. Some of these players and their salaries for the 2014 season are as follows: Miguel Cabrera, $22 million, Matt Cain, $20 million, Robinson Cano, $24 million, and Prince Fielder, $24 million.

Every so often, there are players who don’t make anywhere close to what Rodriguez and Braun make, are better (by a wide margin), and do it legitimately. One such example is Angels center fielder Mike Trout. He made $510k in 2013, and easily outplayed any player. He is rightfully considered the best all around player today. The reason he doesn’t make more money, is due to his contract, which is very, very team friendly based on his production.

Some of the players who used PEDs also hold records, in addition to having a fat bank account. Barry Bonds, who played left field for the Pirates and Giants from 1986 to 2007, used PEDs and is currently on a longstanding trial to find out whether he took them intentionally or if his trainer gave them to him secretly. He holds the all-time home run record with 762, which is only 7 more than former Braves and Brewers outfielder Hank Aaron, who hit 755 home runs without PEDs, while batting cross handed. Bonds also holds the record for the most MVP awards with 7. Another example is Roger Clemens who is on trial for the same reason. Clemens holds a record of winning 7 Cy Young awards (given to the best pitcher) during his career.

Other cheaters include Jhonny Peralta, who signed a $52 million contract, Melky Cabrera, who signed a $16 million contract, Marlon Byrd, who also signed a $16 million contract, Carlos Ruiz, who signed a $26 million contract, and Bartolo Colon, who signed a $20 million contract.

These players have shown that they are only in it for the money, and that it pays to cheat, and some of these players are getting their contract after being caught. Colon, Peralta, Cabrera, Byrd, and Ruiz all got their paydays after using PEDs. The sad realization is finally coming to the MLB that it pays to cheat, and while the MLB does have the best drug testing in professional sports, it seems that the trend of players toward these drugs will continue unless MLB can make a harsher punishment for using them.

And we have to give baseball credit, because even under all of this stress, the National Pastime has continued to grow even larger than before. For example, this year’s World Series had one of the highest ratings of any World Series over the last 10 years. And while baseball strives to weed out the cheaters, fans can sit back and enjoy more excitement in the game of baseball for years to come.