The financial landscape of MLB has continued to reach staggering heights in 2025, as top-of-market talent once again commanded eye-popping salaries this past winter.
Jeremy Cluff of Arizona Republic looked at MLB’s highest-paid players this season. He used Spotrac as his guide and based his rankings solely on average annual salary. So, yes — that means Shohei Ohtani’s number is $70 million instead of $2 million (since he’s deferring $68 million per year).
Let’s get into it.
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The $70 Million Man Stands Alone
It’s no surprise to see Shohei Ohtani topping baseball’s salary charts with a mind-boggling $70 million annual average salary as part of his historic $700 million deal with the Dodgers. What’s remarkable isn’t just the number—it’s the fact that Ohtani has created a tier all his own, sitting nearly $20 million clear of his closest competition.
As I mentioned above, it doesn’t come without caveats. Ohtani’s 10-year deal includes $68 million in deferrals each year for the life of his deal. He’ll start collecting $68 million per season from the Dodgers between 2034 and 2043.
The $40 Million Club Continues Growing
While Ohtani occupies his own financial stratosphere, several superstars have joined baseball’s expanding $40 million club. The New York Mets’ prized acquisition Juan Soto now commands $51 million annually after his blockbuster free-agent deal this past winter, while Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler secured a $42 million yearly salary that reflects his elite status among MLB pitchers. This payday came in the form of a three-year, $126 million extension last spring as he was wrapping up a five-year, $119 million deal.
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Boston’s newest star Alex Bregman are tied at the $40 million mark. The situation for both cases is unique, though. Judge’s salary is part of a nine-year, $360 million deal with the Bombers. As for Bregman, the 2025 campaign is his first as part of a three-year, $120 million commitment. He can also opt out at the end of the season.
Pitchers Continue Cashing in Like Crazy
What jumps out while reviewing these numbers is how heavily pitchers dominate baseball’s highest earners. Among the top 12 salaries, half belong to starting pitchers:
- Zack Wheeler ($42M)
- Jacob deGrom ($37M)
- Blake Snell ($36.4M)
- Gerrit Cole ($36M)
- Corbin Burnes ($35M)
The newest editions to this list include two guys who have settled into life within the National League West. Snell signed a five-year, $182 million deal this past winter to join the Dodgers, while Burnes opted to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks on a six-year, $210 million contract.
The Dodgers’ Payroll
If you’re wondering which team is investing most heavily in elite talent, look no further than the Dodgers. They have five players among the top 25 highest salaries:
- Shohei Ohtani ($70M)
- Blake Snell ($36.4M)
- Mookie Betts ($30.4M)
- Tyler Glasnow ($27.3M)
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto ($27.1M)
This includes significant deferrals for Ohtani and Betts, but still — they’re the only team doing it to such a high degree. LA’s current 2025 payroll is just shy of $330 million, which is the highest in baseball.
Position Players Still Command Premium Dollars
While pitchers are cashing in, elite position players aren’t far behind. What’s fascinating is the positional breakdown among top earners. Shortstops continue commanding premium dollars, with Francisco Lindor ($34.1M), Carlos Correa ($33.3M), and Corey Seager ($32.5M) all earning over $32 million annually.
The infield corners remain highly valued as well, with third basemen like Bregman, Nolan Arenado, and Manny Machado among the top earners, while outfielders Judge, Trout, and Soto represent the cream of the crop at their positions.
The $20 Million Threshold Becomes Standard
Perhaps most telling about baseball’s economic evolution is that 68 players now earn at least $20 million in average annual salary. What was once considered an elite benchmark has become increasingly common, reflecting the sport’s financial growth.
Spotrac’s numbers reveal just how dramatically the financial landscape has shifted. Even “smaller market” teams like the Cleveland Guardians (José Ramírez – $20.1M) and Kansas City Royals (Bobby Witt Jr. – $26.3M) have committed substantial resources to retain their homegrown stars.
As baseball salaries continue their upward trajectory, it’s anyone’s guess as to what these numbers might look like by 2030. There are plenty of young elite players who could find their way to the top of this list soon (*cough* Paul Skenes and Elly De La Cruz *cough*).
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