Highest-paid MLB players: Salaries, record deals & history
Key highlights:
• 💰 Largest current contracts – See which MLB stars earn the most after Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani.
• 🏆 Biggest contracts in history – From A-Rod to Ohtani, learn which record-breaking deals set a new bar for future superstars' pay.
• ⚾ How MLB compares to the NFL & NBA – Baseball pay structure is unique, with no salary cap and no maximums for individual contracts. Learn why it's different from the NBA and NFL.
MLB salaries are skyrocketing, with superstars landing record-breaking contracts and reshaping the sport's financial landscape. From massive 2025 deals to historic free-agency battles, baseball has seen its share of groundbreaking negotiations. How did we get here? We break down the highest-paid baseball players of 2025, including the evolution of baseball salaries, the most lucrative contracts in baseball history, and how MLB salaries compare to other major leagues.
Current top MLB contracts by total value
Note: Annual salaries vary based on contract structures, including deferred payments and incentives. These rankings are based on the total amount the player is scheduled to earn during the life of their contract.
Rank/ Player | Team/ Position | Total Contract | Contract Length | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1/Juan Soto | New York Mets/ Outfield | $765 M | 2025-39 | Soto's record-breaking contract is the largest in MLB history. |
2/Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Dodgers/ Pitcher, DH | $700M | 2024-33 | Ohtani's historic deal includes extensive deferred payments to help the Dodgers' payroll flexibility. |
3/Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels/ Outfield | $426.5M | 2019-30 | A three-time MVP, Trout's contract underscores his generational talent. |
4/Mookie Betts | Los Angeles Dodgers/ Outfield | $365M | 2021-32 | Betts' long-term extension secured him as a franchise player for the Dodgers. |
5/Aaron Judge | New York Yankees/ Outfield | $360M | 2023-31 | Judge's massive contract followed his historic 62-home-run season. |
6/Manny Machado | San Diego Padres/Third Base | $350M | 2023-33 | Machado's extension keeps him in San Diego as one of the game's best all-around players. |
7/ Francisco Lindor | New York Mets/ Shortstop | $341M | 2022-31 | Lindor's contract reflects his elite defense and leadership at shortstop. |
8/ Fernando Tatis Jr. | San Diego Padres/ Shortstop, Outfield | $340M | 2021-34 | A dynamic star, Tatis Jr.'s deal locks him in as one of the faces of the Padres' future. |
9/Bryce Harper | Philadelphia Phillies/ Outfield | $330M | 2019-31 | Harper's contract set a record and solidified his role as a Philadelphia icon. |
T-10/ Giancarlo Stanton | New York Yankees/ Outfield, DH | $325M | 2015-27 | Originally signed with the Marlins, Stanton's power-hitting ability made this deal one of the largest ever. |
T-10/Corey Seager | Texas Rangers/ Shortstop | $325M | 2022-31 | Seager's contract helped solidify Texas' infield and led to a World Series title. |
T-10/ Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Los Angeles Dodgers/ Starting Pitcher | $325M | 2024-35 | Signed from Japan, Yamamoto's deal set a new benchmark for international signings. |
Top 10 highest-paid MLB players by total career earnings (through 2024)
Note: These rankings represent the total earnings accumulated by players throughout their careers through the end of the 2024 season.
1. Alex Rodriguez
Team(s): Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees
Position(s): Shortstop/3rd Base
Estimated Total Career Earnings (according to Spotrac): $455,159,552
Description: Held the record for the largest contract twice and remains the highest-paid player in MLB history.
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2. Justin Verlander
Team(s): Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, New York Mets
Position(s): Starting Pitcher
Estimated Total Career Earnings (according to Spotrac): $394,254,888
Description: A dominant pitcher with multiple Cy Young Awards and World Series titles.
3. Miguel Cabrera
Team(s): Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers
Position(s): First Base
Estimated Total Career Earnings (according to Spotrac): $393,188,685
Description: A two-time MVP and Triple Crown winner known for his elite hitting ability.
4. Albert Pujols
Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers
Position(s): First Base, OF, DH
Estimated Total Career Earnings (according to Spotrac): $341,810,741
Description: One of the greatest right-handed hitters in MLB history, with over 700 home runs.
5. Zack Greinke
Team(s): Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros
Position(s): Starting Pitcher
Estimated Total Career Earnings (according to Spotrac): $315,974,948
Description: Cy Young winner is known for his longevity and pitching intelligence.
6. Max Scherzer
Team(s): Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, New York Mets, Texas Rangers
Position(s): Starting Pitcher
Estimated Total Career Earnings (according to Spotrac): $314,574,999
Description: One of the fiercest competitors in baseball, with multiple Cy Young Awards.
7. Clayton Kershaw
Team(s): Los Angeles Dodgers
Position(s): Starting Pitcher
Estimated Total Career Earnings (according to Spotrac): $298,676,411
Description: A Dodgers legend and one of the best left-handed pitchers of all time.
8. Mike Trout
Team(s): Los Angeles Angels
Position(s): Outfield
Estimated Total Career Earnings (according to Spotrac): $267,740,125
Description: A three-time MVP and a generational talent in baseball.
9. Derek Jeter
Team(s): New York Yankees
Position(s): Shortstop
Estimated Total Career Earnings (according to Spotrac): $266,315,981
Description: A five-time World Series champion and iconic Yankees captain.
10. CC Sabathia
Team(s): Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees
Position(s): Starting Pitcher
Estimated Total Career Earnings (according to Spotrac): $264,800,000
Description: A workhorse pitcher who helped lead the Yankees to a 2009 World Series title.
Key negotiations & game-changing contracts
Some of the most significant MLB contracts not only changed a player's fortune but also reshaped the entire salary structure of baseball. Here are a few landmark deals that set new standards:
Alex Rodriguez's $252M & $275M deals (2000 & 2007): A-Rod's record-setting contract with the Texas Rangers in 2000 was the first to cross the $250M mark. He surpassed this mark in 2007 when he opted out of the original 10-year contract to re-sign with the Yankees for another 10 years at $275M, helping solidify his path to becoming the highest-paid player in MLB history.
Shohei Ohtani's $700M contract (2023): The highest total contract value in sports history at the time, structured uniquely with deferred payments to help the Dodgers' payroll flexibility.
Bobby Bonilla's infamous deferred contract: In 2000, the Mets agreed to pay Bonilla $1.19M annually until 2035 instead of a lump sum, demonstrating how creative financial structuring can benefit both teams and players.
Bryce Harper & Manny Machado's 2019 free agency: Both players signed decade-long contracts, prioritizing length over annual value, showing a shift in negotiation tactics and contract priorities.
The evolution of MLB free agency & salary growth
MLB's free agency system, introduced in 1976 after the reserve clause was abolished, has driven salary inflation. Some key moments in its history include:
Curt Flood's legal challenge (1970): Paved the way for free agency by challenging the reserve clause, which had tied players indefinitely to one team.
The first major free agent signings (1976): Players like Reggie Jackson took advantage of the new system, leading to higher salaries across the league.
The rise of super-agent Scott Boras: Known for securing record-breaking contracts, Boras has influenced how teams and players approach negotiations.
Luxury tax implementation (1997): Introduced to curb excessive spending, the tax threshold has since become a key factor in how contracts are structured.
How MLB contracts have changed over time
Contracts in baseball have transformed in multiple ways:
Length & security: Earlier contracts were shorter, but modern deals often exceed 10 years, prioritizing long-term stability.
Incentives & performance bonuses: Modern deals include MVP bonuses, opt-outs, and player/team options to provide flexibility.
Deferred payments: Teams now spread payments over decades to manage payroll constraints and reduce luxury tax penalties (e.g., Ohtani, Bonilla, Max Scherzer's deferred Mets salary).
Opt-out clauses: Players like Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado have leveraged options to opt out of their contracts and renegotiate for better terms.
How MLB salaries compare to other leagues
MLB contracts differ from those in the NFL and NBA due to structure, guarantees, and revenue distribution:
League | Salary Cap? | Contract Guarantees | Largest Contracts By Total Value |
MLB | No salary cap, luxury tax | Fully guaranteed | 15 years, $765M |
NFL | Hard salary cap | Partially guaranteed | 10 years, $450M |
NBA | Soft salary cap, max contract limits | Fully guaranteed | 5 years, $314M |
MLB lacks a salary cap: Unlike the NFL and NBA, MLB only enforces a luxury tax, allowing teams like the Dodgers and Yankees to outspend teams in smaller markets.
NFL contracts are often non-guaranteed: Teams can cut players without fully paying out contracts, depending on how the agreement is structured, unlike MLB and NBA deals.
NBA's max contracts limit individual pay: While basketball stars earn high salaries, they are subject to contract length and amount limitations, preventing teams from making deals like Ohtani's $700M contract or Soto's $765M contract.
Final thoughts
MLB salaries continue to skyrocket, with top players securing unprecedented deals. Expect contracts to grow as the sport evolves, especially for versatile and marketable stars.
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