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30 Highest-Paid MLB Players

In the realm of Major League Baseball, where talent and athletic prowess reign supreme, I delve into a world where top players are not only celebrated for their on-field accomplishments but also for the substantial paychecks they command. Beyond individual salaries, I explore the myriad factors that contribute to a player’s overall earnings performance, contract length, endorsements, and even market size. This journey also takes us into the broader financial implications of such high salaries, contemplating their impact on team budgets, ticket prices, and the overall financial landscape of Major League Baseball.

By navigating both the individual players and the broader economic consequences, I aim to provide a comprehensive look at the realm of high-paid MLB stars. This article offers insights into the various factors influencing their earnings and the significant impact they wield on the sport. Together, we take a deep dive into the 30 highest-paid MLB players in 2023, dissecting their total earnings from salary and endorsements.

1. Max Scherzer – $43 million

Max Scherzer is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball. A right-handed starting pitcher, Scherzer is an eight-time MLB All-Star, has won three Cy Young Awards, has pitched two no-hitters, and won the World Series with the Nationals in 2019, and the Texas Rangers in 2023. Known for his intensity and competitiveness on the field, he is nicknamed Mad Max after the film series of the same name.

Scherzer holds the record for the highest average annual value baseball contract ever, earning over $43 million per season. Scherzer is one of only four pitchers in Major League history to win multiple World Series championships, win multiple Cy Young Awards, throw multiple no-hitters, and earn multiple All-Star selections.

2. Justin Verlander – $43 million

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Justin Verlander is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball. He broke the Monarchs’ and Colonial Athletic Association’s career records for strikeouts. At the 2003 Pan American Games, Verlander helped lead the United States national team to a silver medal.

Verlander is one of only four pitchers in Major League history to win multiple World Series championships, win multiple Cy Young Awards, throw multiple no-hitters, and earn multiple All-Star selections; the others are Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, Tim Lincecum and former teammate Max Scherzer. Verlander is the only player with multiple World Series championships, an MVP Award, a Rookie of the Year Award, and three Cy Young Awards.

3. Aaron Judge –  $40 million

Aaron Judge is an American professional baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Judge played college baseball for the Fresno State Bulldogs, and the Yankees selected him with the 32nd pick in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft. After making his MLB debut in 2016 and hitting a home run in his first major league at-bat, Judge went on to have a record-breaking rookie season in 2017. He was named an All-Star, won the Home Run Derby, and hit 52 home runs, breaking Mark McGwire’s MLB rookie record of 49 and Joe DiMaggio’s Yankee full-season rookie record of 29. 

His rookie record stood for two years until Pete Alonso hit 53 home runs in 2019. Judge won the AL Rookie of the Month Awards for April, May, June, and September, as well as the AL’s Player of the Month Award for June and September. After the 2022 season, he re-signed with the Yankees on a nine-year, $360 million contract and was subsequently named the team’s captain. 

4. Anthony Rendon – $38 million

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Anthony Rendon is an American baseball third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Washington Nationals and was a member of the Nationals’ 2019 World Series championship team.

Rendon played college baseball for the Rice University Owls, where he won the 2010 Dick Howser Trophy. Rendon was selected sixth overall in the 2011 MLB draft by the Nationals. Rendon made his MLB debut in 2013. He is an All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

5. Mike Trout – $37 million

Mike Trout is an American professional baseball centre fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball. Trout is an 11-time MLB All-Star, and three-time American League, Most Valuable Player (MVP) winning the award in 2014, 2016, and 2019, while finishing second in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018, and nine-time winner of the Silver Slugger Award. He also captained the United States national team during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

In 2019, Trout signed a 12-year, $426 million contract with the Angels, the second-richest contract in the history of North American sports fourth in professional sports in general and the second-biggest contract at the time of signing.

6. Gerrit Cole – $36 million

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Gerrit Cole is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros. Cole played for the baseball team at Orange Lutheran High School and was selected by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Cole opted not to sign and instead attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college baseball for the UCLA Bruins.

In 2019, the Yankees signed Cole to a franchise record nine-year, $324 million contract, the largest contract total in major league history for a pitcher. Cole is a member of the 2022 class of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame. He also is the franchise record-holder for strikeouts in a single season for both the Astros (2019) and the Yankees (2022), with 326 and 257 respectively. Cole won the 2023 American League Cy Young Award via unanimous vote.

7. Trevor Bauer – $35 million

Trevor Bauer is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. A free agent after the 2020 season, Bauer signed a three-year contract with the Dodgers in February 2021. He led the league in both strikeouts and innings pitched through July 2 but spent the rest of the season on administrative leave imposed by MLB as they investigated sexual assault allegations made against him, which continued into the following season. 

In 2022, the league announced that Bauer would be suspended for 324 games as a result of their investigation, which was later reduced to 194 on appeal. The Dodgers released him on January 12, 2023, rather than restoring him to the active roster. Following this, Bauer signed with the BayStars.

8. Stephen Strasburg – $35 million

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Stephen Strasburg is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. Strasburg was selected by Washington with the first overall pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut in 2010 and is a three-time All-Star.

Strasburg led the National League in strikeouts in 2014, pitching an average fastball of 94.8 miles per hour that year. In the 2019 postseason, he recorded five wins, tying the record for most victories in a single postseason, shared by Randy Johnson and Francisco Rodríguez and becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to achieve a 5–0 postseason record. Strasburg was awarded the 2019 World Series MVP award, as he helped lead the Nationals to victory over the Houston Astros.

9. Nolan Arenado – $35 million

Nolan Arenado is an American professional baseball third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball. Arenado is widely recognized as an elite third baseman, both offensively and defensively. In 2016, Arenado became the youngest player in Rockies franchise history to reach 100 home runs. He became the sixth player in history to finish off such a performance with a walk-off home run. 

In 2017, he became the 11th major leaguer and first third baseman in history to drive in 130 or more runs in three successive seasons. Arenado represents the United States national team in international competitions. In the 2017 World Baseball Classic, he helped win Team USA’s first gold medal in a WBC tournament. Arenado also participated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

10. Corey Seager – $31 million

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Corey Seager is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball. He previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers selected Seager in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft, and he made his major league debut in 2015. 

Seager was the 2016 National League (NL) Rookie of the Year and was an MLB All-Star in his first two full seasons in the majors. He was named the NL Championship Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the World Series MVP while leading the Dodgers to the 2020 World Series title. After seven years with the Dodgers, Seager entered free agency and signed a 10-year contract worth $325 million with the Rangers.

11. Francisco Lindor – $30 million

Francisco Lindor is a Puerto Rican professional baseball shortstop for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. Lindor began playing baseball at an early age, and he moved with his family to Florida when he was 12. He became the Indians’ first-round selection, and eighth overall, in the 2011 MLB draft. In the minor leagues, he participated in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game, and by 2013, was rated by Baseball America as the Indians’ top overall prospect.

12. Miguel Cabrera – $30 million

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Miguel Cabrera is a Venezuelan former professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers. Cabrera is regarded as one of the greatest hitters of all time.

Cabrera is the all-time leader in career home runs and hits by a Venezuelan player, surpassing Andrés Galarraga and Omar Vizquel respectively. He joined the 500-home run club in 2021 and the 3,000-hit club in 2022; he was the seventh player in MLB history to reach both milestones. Cabrera retired after the 2023 season and will continue working with the Tigers’ organization as a special assistant to the president of baseball operations.

13. Giancarlo Stanton – $30 million

Giancarlo Stanton is an American professional baseball designated hitter and outfielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Stanton has twice led the National League (NL) in home runs; he hit 59 home runs in 2017, the most in 16 years. Known for his prodigious physical strength and ability to hit long home runs.

A five-time MLB All-Star, Stanton has twice won both the NL Hank Aaron Award and outfield Silver Slugger Award after leading the league in home runs. In November 2014, the Marlins signed Stanton to the richest total dollar value contract in team sports history at the time of the signing; the contract is worth $325 million over 13 years. Following the 2017 season, Stanton was traded to the New York Yankees.

14. Alex Bregman – $30 million

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Alex Bregman is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball. Bregman made his MLB debut in 2016. He started 2017 as the youngest member of Team USA, which won the gold medal in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and he ended the season winning the 2017 World Series with the Astros. He was named MVP of the 2018 MLB All-Star Game and led the American League in doubles in 2018. 

In 2019 he was again an All-Star, led the AL in walks and WAR, and received the 2019 American League Silver Slugger Award at third base. In 2022, he won his second World Series and became the all-time leader in postseason home runs and runs batted in for a third baseman.

15. Shohei Ohtani – $30 million

Shohei Ohtani is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher and designated hitter who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels and for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball’s (NPB) Pacific League.

Ohtani completed yet another historic campaign in 2023, becoming the first player in MLB history with 10 wins and 40 home runs in a season, the first Japanese-born player to win a major league home run title, leading the American League with 44 home runs, the first player in MLB history to be a unanimous MVP twice and the first Japanese player to have the most popular Major League Baseball jersey sales. Internationally, Ohtani represented Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, winning the MVP Award for the tournament following Team Japan’s victory over Team USA. The final game was one of the most-watched baseball games in history,

16. Jacob deGrom – $30 million

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Jacob deGrom is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the New York Mets. Before playing professionally, deGrom attended Stetson University and played college baseball for the Stetson Hatters.

In 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2021 deGrom was selected as an MLB All-Star. In 2018, deGrom was the NL leader in earned run average and won the Cy Young Award. In 2019, he led the NL in strikeouts and won the Cy Young Award for the second year in a row. In 2020, he again led the National League in strikeouts.

17. Jose Altuve – $29 million

Jose Altuve is a Venezuelan professional baseball second baseman for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). Having played for the Astros since 2011, he is the longest-tenured current member of the team, and the only one to have been with the Astros since they were in the National League.

Altuve is widely regarded as one of the greatest Astros in franchise history, and one of the best second basemen of his generation. On the international stage, he has represented the Venezuelan national team in the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classics (WBC).

18. Kris Bryant – $28 million

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Kris Bryant is an American professional baseball third baseman and outfielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. Before playing professionally, Bryant attended the University of San Diego, where he played college baseball for the Toreros. 

Bryant made his major league debut in 2015. He was named an MLB All-Star and won the National League’s (NL) Rookie of the Year Award. He was again named an All-Star in 2016, won a World Series championship with the Cubs, and was named the NL’s Most Valuable Player. The Cubs traded him to the Giants in 2021, and he then signed a seven-year contract with the Rockies before the 2022 season.

19. Bryce Harper – $27 million

Bryce Harper is an American professional baseball first baseman, outfielder and designated hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Washington Nationals from 2012 through 2018.

As a free agent during the 2018–19 offseason, he signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies, the richest contract in the history of North American sports at the time, until being eclipsed shortly after by Mike Trout. He won his second NL MVP award in 2021 with the Phillies. The next season, he helped lead the Phillies to their first postseason appearance in 11 years and was instrumental in helping the team win its first pennant since 2009, winning the NLCS MVP in the process.

20. Trea Turner – $27 million

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Trea Turner is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers. On the international level, he plays for the United States national team.

Traded to the Dodgers during the 2021 season, he became a free agent after the 2022 season and signed an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. Turner is a two-time MLB All-Star. He has led the National League in batting average once and twice in stolen bases. Turner won a Silver Slugger Award and has hit for the cycle three times, tying the MLB record for most cycles in a career. Turner set an MLB record in 2023 by stealing the most bases in a season without being caught. He won the 2019 World Series with the Nationals.

21. Marcus Semien – $26 million

Marcus Semien is an American professional baseball shortstop and second baseman for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays. 

Semien was an All-Star in 2021 with the Blue Jays, when he also won the Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award. Semien won the 2023 World Series with the Texas Rangers over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

22. Xander Bogaerts – $25 million

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Xander Bogaerts is an Aruban professional baseball shortstop for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox. He represents the Netherlands national baseball team in international competitions. After being signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox in 2009, Bogaerts made his MLB debut in 2013, appearing in 30 games between the regular season and postseason, and helping the Red Sox to the World Series championship. He became the Red Sox’ starting shortstop in 2014, and was awarded the American League’s Silver Slugger Award at the position in back-to-back years, 2015 and 2016, and again in 2019 and 2021. He has the most games played at the position of shortstop for the Red Sox, having set the record in 2022.

23. Paul Goldschmidt – $25 million

Paul Goldschmidt is an American professional baseball first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He also represents the United States in international competition.

A seven-time MLB All-Star, Goldschmidt won the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2022. He has also won two Hank Aaron Awards, four Gold Gloves and five Silver Slugger Awards, the latter of which is the most among first basemans. While leading the NL in home runs and runs batted in (RBI) in 2013, Goldschmidt won each of an All-Star selection, Hank Aaron, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards for the first time. He also has twice finished runner-up for the NL MVP Award, in 2013 and 2015.

24. Freddie Freeman – $25 million

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Freddie Freeman is an American and Canadian professional baseball first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. Previously, Freeman played for the Atlanta Braves for 12 seasons, making his MLB debut with the team in 2010. In his final season with Atlanta, Freeman won the 2021 World Series over the Houston Astros.

A seven-time MLB All-Star, Freeman won a Gold Glove Award in 2018, the Silver Slugger Award in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award in 2020. After 12 seasons with the Braves, he entered free agency and then signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Dodgers. Freeman also represents the Canadian national team in international competitions.

25. Marcus Stroman – $25 million

Marcus Stroman is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs. 

He made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays in 2014. In 2017, he was the World Baseball Classic MVP. After the regular season, he won a 2017 Gold Glove Award. Stroman was named an All-Star in 2019, and the Blue Jays traded him to the Mets later in the 2019 season. He signed a three-year contract for the Cubs before the 2022 season and opted out of his third year at the end of the 2023 season.

26. Yu Darvish – $25 million

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Yu Darvish is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. He was considered by many to be the best pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball before he arrived in Major League Baseball in 2012. 

In his first MLB season, Darvish finished third in the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year balloting. The next season, he finished second in the AL Cy Young Award vote as he led the Major Leagues in strikeouts with 277 and finished fourth in the AL in earned run average (ERA) at 2.83. On 6 April 2014, Darvish reached the 500-strikeout mark in fewer innings pitched than any starting pitcher in MLB history.

27. Joey Votto – $25 million

Joey Votto is a Canadian professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent. Votto has played his entire career for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Reds in 2007. 

He is the first Canadian MLB player since Larry Walker to hit 300 home runs and have 1,000 career runs batted in (RBI). Votto is also the second Canadian to have 2,000 hits, the first also being Walker.

28. Zack Wheeler – $24 million

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Zack Wheeler is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. Between 2013 and 2019, he played in MLB for the New York Mets.

Following a 2017 season that was limited by injury, Wheeler returned to form with the Mets in 2018, setting a career-high number of strikeouts and innings pitched. He became a free agent at the end of the 2019 season and signed a five-year deal with the Phillies in December 2019. 

29. Patrick Corbin – $24 million

Patrick Corbin is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He won the 2019 World Series with the Nationals.

Corbin returned to the Diamondbacks in 2015 but struggled, and was removed from the starting rotation in 2016. After returning to the rotation in 2017, he started for the Diamondbacks on Opening Day in 2018. Corbin was named an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2018 before joining the Washington Nationals for the 2019 season.

30. Christian Yelich – $24 million

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Christian Yelich is an American professional baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Miami Marlins. Yelich won a Gold Glove Award in 2014, the Silver Slugger Award in 2016, 2018 and 2019, and the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award in 2018.

The Major League Baseball season brings excitement and thrilling plays, but it also shines a light on the massive salaries earned by the league’s top players. This article highlights the diverse range of talent in Major League Baseball, from powerful hitters to dominant pitchers. It’s a testament to the immense skill and dedication required to reach the pinnacle of the sport and the financial rewards that come with it.