Who are MLB’s highest-paid players at each position?

First, it was Shohei Ohtani’s report $700 million contract. Then, Juan Soto topped that only one 12 months later with a $765 million deal. Not all MLB contracts are like these two, however not all gamers are like that pair, both.

Nonetheless, there’s a ton of cash floating round for the perfect that the league has to supply, and for all the thrill of (comparatively cheap) youth that permeates MLB motion annually, the cornerstones of so many groups stay these confirmed veterans who can sustain with or straight-up surpass that subsequent technology. For a value, in fact.

Then once more, Soto remains to be younger — he’s nonetheless simply 26, as is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose $500 million extension signed earlier this spring kicks in subsequent 12 months. It’s that mixture of youth and expertise that nets probably the most money in MLB, however so long as there’s loads of the latter, some groups nonetheless handle to come up with the money for those that are nearing or simply over 30, too.

We took a take a look at the highest-paid gamers in MLB at every place, in line with the common annual worth (AAV) of their contracts.

All wage data comes through Spotrac and Baseball Prospectus. 

C: J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies ($23.1M AAV)

Catchers who can truly hit are an actual rarity at the moment, which has seen potential catchers filtered out at a younger age for these able to framing pitches like they’re one of many Molina brothers over every other attribute. Realmuto has had a tricky April, however from 2022 by means of 2024, he hit .264/.325/.455 for a 115 OPS+ — there aren’t many catchers doing that form of work on the plate anymore, and Realmuto acquired paid as a result of he’s one of many few who can.

1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays ($28.5M AAV)

Technically, Mets’ first baseman Pete Alonso is being paid extra in 2025 than Guerrero Jr. Nevertheless, he’s on a two-year deal that was frontloaded with a signing bonus, and his $27 million AAV comes up in need of Guerrero’s. Guerrero hasn’t even began his $500 million extension, both: that kicks off in 2026, with this season’s wage the results of his remaining 12 months of arbitration eligibility. Subsequent spring, Guerrero Jr. will sport a $35.7 million AAV.

2B: Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers ($25M AAV)

Semien is within the excessive level of his seven-year, $175 million deal in the meanwhile, because it pays him $26 million yearly from 2023 by means of 2027. He signed the contract after ending third within the American League MVP race again in 2021, a 12 months wherein he additionally earned a visit to the All-Star Sport and took house each Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. He’s had a tough begin to the 2025 season, however even in a down 2024 he was nonetheless a four-win participant by wins above substitute’s reckoning, and that’s greater than sufficient even because the highest-paid participant at his place.

SS: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets ($34.1M AAV)

Carlos Correa ($37M in 2025, $33.3M AAV) is making extra in 2025, particularly, and Corey Seager ($32M in 2025, $32.5M AAV) is tied with Lindor’s personal wage for the 12 months, however the 10-year, $341 million deal the Mets’ shortstop agreed to earlier than the 2022 season has him down because the highest-paid participant on the place by common annual worth. Lindor’s deal is simply sophisticated by a mix of $50 million in deferred funds, in addition to a $21 million signing bonus. Which suggests you’ll be able to both say it’s undoubtedly Lindor, or, acknowledge that this battle is actual tight at shortstop. Over one-quarter of the league has a shortstop making at the least $22.5M in 2025, which is an effective reminder that it’s an important place.

3B: Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels ($35M AAV)

Rendon’s profession with the Angels has not gone in line with any conceivable plan. He’s in his fifth season with the group, and is out for all of 2025 after present process hip surgical procedure earlier within the 12 months. The oft-injured Rendon had probably misplaced his job as a starter, anyway, as basic supervisor Perry Minasian had stated over the offseason that he’d be competing for a job within the spring, however nonetheless. Rendon’s first season with the Angels was typical of his greatest work, as he posted a 150 OPS+, however since then, he’s managed simply 205 video games and an 86 OPS+.

LF: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros ($25M AAV)

Altuve would have been within the working for highest-paid second baseman, however his place change has him now on the prime in left subject. For no matter cause, left subject simply isn’t a place that pulls in big contracts in in the present day’s MLB: Ian Happ’s $20.3M AAV is second, as a part of a three-year, $61M deal, and Brandon Nimmo’s eight-year, $162M contract comes out to a $20.25M AAV. Not that both of these contracts (nor Altuve’s) is chump change by any means.

CF: Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees ($26.6M AAV)

The Cubs moved Bellinger to the Yankees this previous offseason in an effort to make room for Kyle Tucker — who might very properly present up on this checklist in a 12 months after the potential free agent signs a new deal. The whole worth of Bellinger’s deal isn’t that excessive, as he signed a little bit of a make-good, short-term take care of a excessive AAV following a tough 2022 season with the Dodgers, nevertheless it’s nonetheless sufficient to prime this checklist after Mike Trout ($35.5M AAV) shifted to proper subject. Bellinger thrived with the Cubs (.286/.340/.475, 125 OPS+) however has faltered within the early going with New York (.206/.283/.361, 83 OPS+).

Barring any bigger signings between every now and then, George Springer (six-year, $150M for a $25M AAV) will take over this spot subsequent spring after Bellinger’s contract expires.

RF: Juan Soto, New York Mets ($51M AAV)

The biggest contract in MLB historical past is tops amongst proper fielders, and it’s not shut even with Aaron Judge pulling in $40 million per 12 months mixed with Trout’s place change. Soto will truly make far, way over his common annual worth suggests in 2025, since his contract included a $75 million signing bonus that was paid out even earlier than spring coaching started. (Or, a signing bonus value virtually as a lot as Bellinger’s whole heart field-leading contract.) 

Why is Soto paid this a lot? Properly, the price of an elite expertise goes up sooner than the price of virtually the rest, and one who was out there as a free agent as younger as Soto was can be a rarity. Mix these two issues collectively, and also you get this history-making deal. Take into account, too, that Soto is off to a sluggish begin in 2025… however solely by his requirements: he has a .374 on-base share and a 122 OPS+ regardless of the very fact he hasn’t even began hitting for his normal energy but.

DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers ($70M AAV)

Properly this one takes some explaining. For one, Ohtani is being slotted in as a DH as a result of that’s the one place he’s enjoying in the meanwhile as he recovers from his second Tommy John surgical procedure. Second, Ohtani has an AAV of $70 million, sure, however $68 million of that’s deferred annually till after his contract with the Dodgers ends: he’s making “simply” $2 million within the current to go well with up for the Dodgers, and the present-day worth of that deferred cash isn’t anyplace near $68 million, both. Mainly, Soto’s deal, with its lack of deferred cash, is value an entire lot greater than the straight $65 million in further funds that it bested Ohtani’s by.

Nevertheless, we’ve been enjoying by AAV guidelines this complete time, so Ohtani’s AAV is listed above. The excellent news for these of you continue to studying at this level is that we do have an estimate of the worth of Ohtani’s deal after contemplating the passage of time and inflation and such: the MLB Gamers Affiliation calculates the whole worth of the contract at about $438 million. Or, an AAV of $43.8M, which might nonetheless simply clear the likes of Giancarlo Stanton ($25M AAV) and Kris Bryant ($26M AAV). And only for completionist’s sake, for payroll accounting functions, Ohtani is listed at $28.2M, which might nonetheless rank first amongst designated hitters.

SP: Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies ($42M AAV)

The Phillies’ ace has been a revelation since becoming a member of them as a free agent earlier than the 2020 season, however since he was older after his preliminary deal than when he signed it — that’s how ageing works and all — the Phillies had been a bit extra cautious the second time round regardless of his efficiency. Not in {dollars}, essentially, however in years: whereas Wheeler signed a five-year, $121 million contract earlier than 2020, his new deal is for simply three years, however at a complete value ($126M) increased than his longer first deal. Wheeler is making $42 million in every of these three seasons — no signing bonuses, no deferrals, simply huge, $42 million checks. Oh, and a resort suite on the street, which, have you ever seen the prices of motels these days? That makes the deal value it by itself.

RP: Edwin Diaz, New York Mets ($20.4M)

Astros’ nearer Josh Hader could be making a teensy bit extra in 2025 — $19 million to Díaz’s $17.5 million — however the years are even and the whole worth of the latter’s deal is bigger, and his 2025 wage solely decrease resulting from a $12 million signing bonus paid upfront. The Mets’ nearer signed his deal after one of many really nice seasons in reduction, the place he struck out 118 batters in a mere 62 innings whereas posting a 1.31 ERA. He’s handled knee and shoulder issues since, nevertheless, and hasn’t reached that kind since.

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