Major League Baseball’s average salary is as high as ever.
MLB saw player salaries rise 14.8% in aggregate in 2022 to $4.2 million, reversing a four-year trend of declining player salaries.
For MLB’s highest-paid players, it’s never been a better time for contract negotiations. Higher attendance, stronger ratings, and steadily increasing salaries work in their favor.
Shohei Ohtani takes the top spot as the highest-paid baseball player right now, earning $70 million in AAV with the Dodgers.
Ohtani signed his record-setting deal last December, giving him the largest contract in all of U.S. team sports. The two-time AL MVP and rare two-way player is the only baseball player earning over $50 million per season.
While Ohtani didn’t pitch this season due to an injured elbow ligament, Los Angeles is banking on him to return to the mound next year.
Juan Soto of the Mets is second with $51 million in AAV. Previously the most coveted free agent, Soto signed a deal on December 8th worth $765 million over 15 years.
The deal keeps the 26-year-old in New York until he’s 40, but he’ll trade his pinstripes for the orange and blue of his former team’s rivals.
Phillies ace Zack Wheeler is third earning $42 million. He signed a three-year deal in May worth $126 million. His AAV jumped from $23.5 million to vault him to the second-highest starting pitcher in the MLB.
Aaron Judge comes in fourth earning $40 million annually.
The Yankees’ right fielder signed a $322 million contract in 2022 that will keep him in New York until 2031. The deal includes a no-trade clause and is fully guaranteed.
The Dodgers lead all teams with six players among the highest-paid MLB players.
Front-line starters are invaluable. Nine starting pitchers are among the highest-paid baseball players, the most of any other position.
Meanwhile, five shortstops are featured as the second most represented position. Francisco Lindor of the Mets is the highest-paid shortstop, earning $34.1 million to place him eighth.
Ranking The Highest-Paid MLB Players
Here is the list of the top 25 highest-paid baseball players. The list was compiled with data from Spotrac.
- Updated: December 20th, 2024
| Rank | Player | Position | Team | Total Contract AAV |
| 1 | Shohei Ohtani | SP/DH | Los Angeles Dodgers | $70 million |
| 2 | Juan Soto | RF | New York Mets | $51 million |
| 3 | Zack Wheeler | SP | Philadelphia Phillies | $42 million |
| 4 | Aaron Judge | RF | New York Yankees | $40 million |
| 5 | Jacob DeGrom | SP | Texas Rangers | $37 million |
| 6 | Blake Snell | SP | Los Angeles Dodgers | $36.4 million |
| 7 | Gerrit Cole | SP | New York Yankees | $36 million |
| 8 | Mike Trout | CF | Los Angeles Angels | $35.5 million |
| 9 | Anthony Rendon | 3B | Los Angeles Angels | $35 million |
| 10 | Francisco Lindor | SS | New York Mets | $34.1 million |
| 11 | Carlos Correa | SS | Minnesota Twins | $33.3 million |
| T-12 | Corey Seager | SS | Texas Rangers | $32.5 million |
| T-12 | Nolan Arenado | 3B | St Louis Cardinals | $32.5 million |
| 14 | Manny Machado | 3B | San Diego Padres | $31.8 million |
| 15 | Rafael Devers | 3B | Boston Red Sox | $31.4 million |
| 16 | Mookie Betts | RF/SS | Los Angeles Dodgers | $30.4 million |
| 17 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | 1B | Toronto Blue Jays | $28.8 million |
| 18 | Tyler Glasnow | SP | Los Angeles Dodgers | $27.31 million |
| 19 | Trea Turner | SS | Philadelphia Phillies | $27.27 million |
| 20 | Max Fried | SP | New York Yankees | $27.25 million |
| 21 | Yoshinobu Yamamoto | SP | Los Angeles Dodgers | $27.1 million |
| T-22 | Carlos Rodon | SP | New York Yankees | $27 million |
| T-22 | Freddie Freeman | 1B | Los Angeles Dodgers | $27 million |
| 24 | Christian Yelich | LF | Milwaukee Brewers | $26.9 million |
| 25 | Cody Bellinger | CF | New York Yankees | $26.7 million |
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