All we had to do for Major League Baseball to break another record for everyone to simply start playing regular season games back in March. According to The Associated Press, MLB’s average salary has officially surpassed the $5 million mark for the first time.
This represents more than just bigger paychecks; it’s a testament to baseball’s popularity and financial growth in an era when many predicted America’s pastime would fade. Let’s dive into what this salary explosion really means for the game we love.
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A Breakdown of 2025 MLB Salaries and Payrolls
The Big Spenders vs. The Budget Ballers
The payroll gap in baseball continues to widen at a staggering rate. The New York Mets led the charge for the third consecutive Opening Day with a $322.6 million payroll, barely edging out the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at $319.5 million.
To put this in perspective, both teams are spending roughly five times (!!) what the Miami Marlins are shelling out ($64.9 million). That’s right — for every dollar the Marlins spend on player salaries, the Mets and Dodgers are dropping $5! Miami has now replaced the Athletics as baseball’s most frugal franchise, ending Oakland’s three-year “reign” as MLB’s lowest spender.
Even with these astronomical numbers, it’s worth noting that even though the Mets signed Juan Soto to a $765 million deal this past winter, the team’s Opening Day payroll is down compared to the record-high $355.4 million they put forth in 2023.
Record-Breaking Individual Paychecks
According to Spotrac, Soto is earning an eye-popping $61.9 million this season with the Mets. This shatters the previous record of $43.3 million shared by Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander in their Mets contracts.
The salary landscape features some truly elite earners beyond Soto. Philadelphia Phillies ace (and former Met) Zack Wheeler ranks second at $42 million, followed by Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom (another former Met) and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge at $40 million each.
Shohei Ohtani’s massive $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers doesn’t even place him in the top 15 highest-paid players for this season due to deferred payments. His $70 million salary has a present-day value of just $28.2 million because it won’t be fully paid until 2035.
The Middle-Class Squeeze
While headlines focus on the astronomical salaries at the top, baseball’s middle class appears to be shrinking. The median salary — the point where half of players earn more and half earn less — has dropped to $1.35 million. It was $1.5 million last year.
This figure sits well below the record high of $1.65 million (established at the start of 2015), which suggests a growing disparity between baseball’s haves and have-nots. Of the 953 players on Opening Day rosters, 526 players (55%) earned $1 million or more — a decrease from the 532 millionaires last year and 546 in 2023.
The salary distribution remains extremely top-heavy, with the 50 highest-paid players accounting for 29% of all salaries, and the top 100 earning 48% of the total compensation pool. At the other end of the spectrum, 35 players are making the league minimum of $760,000.
Teams Making Financial Moves
Several teams made dramatic payroll shifts this season. The Dodgers increased spending by a league-high $69 million from Opening Day last year. Other big spenders include Baltimore (up $66 million), Arizona (up $55 million), and San Diego (up $47 million).
On the flip side, some teams are tightening their belts significantly. The Chicago White Sox slashed payroll by $60.8 million following their disastrous 121-loss season. The San Francisco Giants ($39.1 million reduction), Marlins ($31.7 million), and St. Louis Cardinals ($31.6 million) also made substantial cuts. Even the AL champion Yankees trimmed $18.5 million from their payroll, which mostly happened because Soto decided to bolt from the Bronx for Queens.
What This Means for Baseball’s Future
The $5 million average salary milestone arrives during a fascinating period of change for baseball. Despite a focus on improving pace of play, declining youth participation, and competition from other sports, MLB’s financial health appears to be just fine.
These salaries reflect the sport’s strong media deals, growing international appeal, and the massive value that elite players bring to franchises. With just five teams operating under $100 million in payroll (Marlins, Athletics, White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and Pittsburgh Pirates), it’s clear that most organizations are willing to put their money where their mouth is to compete.
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