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.
The New York Mets and the Texas Rangers led the trend last year, with the Mets giving their shortstop Francisco Lindor a 10-year, $341 million contract and ace pitcher Max Scherzer a three-year deal at a record $43.3 million annual value.
The Rangers have a well-paid middle infield after signing Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to deals worth a respective $325 million and $175 million.
Both teams continued spending in the most recent offseason, with the Mets handing out close to $500 million in guaranteed contracts after the Rangers signed away top pitcher Jacob deGrom in a five-year, $185 million deal.
Since 2003, the average salary per player has increased from $2.37 million to $4.2 million. In 2017, it peaked at $4.45 million.
In December 2000, Alex Rodriguez became Major League Baseball’s first $25 million-dollar-a-year player.
Today, 30 players on Opening Day get at least $25 million.
The Top 30 MLB Salaries in 2023
| Rank | Player | Team | Pos. | Age | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Scherzer | Mets | SP | 38 | $43,333,333 |
| tie. | Justin Verlander | Mets | SP | 40 | $43,333,333 |
| 3 | Aaron Judge | Yankees | RF | 31 | $40,000,000 |
| 4 | Anthony Rendon | Angels | 3B | 33 | $38,571,428 |
| 5 | Mike Trout | Angels | CF | 31 | $37,116,666 |
| 6 | Gerrit Cole | Yankees | SP | 32 | $36,000,000 |
| 7 | Corey Seager | Rangers | SS | 29 | $35,500,000 |
| 8 | Stephen Strasburg | Nationals | SP | 34 | $35,000,000 |
| 9 | Nolan Arenado | Cardinals | 3B | 32 | $35,000,000 |
| 10 | Francisco Lindor | Mets | SS | 29 | $34,100,000 |
| 11 | Carlos Correa | Twins | SS | 28 | $33,333,333 |
| 12 | Giancarlo Stanton | Yankees | DH | 33 | $32,000,000 |
| 13 | Miguel Cabrera | Tigers | DH | 40 | $32,000,000 |
| 14 | Alex Bregman | Astros | 3B | 29 | $30,500,000 |
| 15 | Shohei Ohtani | Angels | SP | 28 | $30,000,000 |
| 16 | Jacob deGrom | Rangers | SP | 35 | $30,000,000 |
| 17 | Jose Altuve | Astros | 2B | 33 | $29,000,000 |
| 18 | Kris Bryant | Rockies | OF | 31 | $28,000,000 |
| 19 | Bryce Harper | Phillies | RF | 30 | $27,538,462 |
| 20 | Chris Sale | Red Sox | SP | 34 | $27,500,000 |
| 21 | Trea Turner | Phillies | SS | 30 | $27,272,727 |
| 22 | Freddie Freeman | Dodgers | 1B | 33 | $27,000,000 |
| 23 | Marcus Semien | Rangers | 2B | 32 | $26,000,000 |
| 24 | Christian Yelich | Brewers | LF | 31 | $26,000,000 |
| 25 | Paul Goldschmidt | Cardinals | 1B | 35 | $26,000,000 |
| 26 | Xander Bogaerts | Padres | SS | 30 | $25,454,545 |
| 27 | Yu Darvish | Padres | SP | 36 | $25,000,000 |
| 28 | Mookie Betts | Dodgers | RF | 30 | $25,000,000 |
| 29 | Marcus Stroman | Cubs | SP | 32 | $25,000,000 |
| 30 | Joey Votto | Reds | 1B | 39 | $25,000,000 |
