Salaries continue to soar in Major League Baseball as 36 players will make at least $20 million in total earnings this season, up from 21 players just three years ago.
The highest-paid players on every MLB team
In MLB this season, 36 players will make at least $20 million in total earnings, up from 21 players just three years ago.
However, unlike the other major sports in North America, when it comes to paying players, there are some stark contrasts in team payrolls and how much some teams pay their top players.
Below we take a look at the highest-paid player on every tea, starting with the teams that have the lowest of the highest-paid players.
Salaries and contract information via Spotrac.com and BaseballProspectus.com.
Oakland A's: Ryan Madson — $7.5 million
Team: Oakland A's
Position: Relief pitcher
2016 WAR:
Contract: 3 years, $22.0 million (through 2018)
One thing to know:
Tampa Bay Rays: Evan Longoria — $13.0 million
Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Position: Third base
2016 WAR:
Contract: years, $ million (through)
One thing to know:
Pittsburgh Pirates: Andrew McCutchen — $14.0 million
Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Position: Outfielder
2016 WAR:
Contract: 6 years, $51.5 million (through 2017 with a 2018 team option for $14.5 million)
One thing to know:
Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton — $14.5 million
Team: Miami Marlins
Position: Outfielder
2016 WAR:
Contract: 13 years, $325.0 million (through 2027 with a $25.0 million club option for 2028)
One thing to know:
Milwaukee Brewers: Ryan Braun — $15.0 million
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Position: Outfielder
2016 WAR:
Contract: 5 years, $105 million (through 2020 with $15 million mutual option for 2021)
One thing to know:
Kansas City Royals: Alex Gordon — $16.0 million
Team: Kansas City Royals
Position: Outfielder
2016 WAR:
Contract: 4 years, $72.0 million (through 2019 with $23.0 million mutual option in 2020)
One thing to know:
San Diego Padres: Wil Myers — $17.0 million
Team: San Diego Padres
Position: First base
2016 WAR:
Contract: 6 years, $83.0 million (through 2022 with )
One thing to know:
Baltimore Orioles: Chris Davis — $17.0 million
Team: Baltimore Orioles
Position: First base
2016 WAR: 2.7
Contract: 7 years, $161.0 million (through 2022)
One thing to know:
Philadelphia Phillies: Jeremy Hellickson — $17.2 million
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Position: Starting pitcher
2016 WAR:
Contract: 1 years, $17.2 million (through 2017)
One thing to know:
Cleveland Indians: Edwin Encarnacion — $18.0 million
Team: Cleveland Indians
Position: Designated hitter
2016 WAR:
Contract: 3 years, $60.0 million (through 2019 with a club option for 2020 at $20.0 million)
One thing to know:
Houston Astros: Carlos Beltran — $19.1 million
Team: Houston Astros
Position: Designated hitter
2016 WAR:
Contract: 1 year, $16.0 million (through 2017)
One thing to know:
St. Louis Cardinals: Adam Wainwright — $19.5 million
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Position: Starting pitcher
2016 WAR:
Contract: 5 years, $97.5 million (through 2018)
One thing to know:
Colorado Rockies: Carlos Gonzalez — $20.0 million
Team: Colorado Rockies
Position: Outfielder
2016 WAR:
Contract: 7 years, $80.0 million (through 2017)
One thing to know:
Toronto Blue Jays: Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin — $20.0 million
Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Position: Shortstop (Tulowitzki); Catcher (Martin)
2016 WAR:
Contract: 10 years, $157.8 million for Tulo (through 2020); 5-years, $82.0 million for Martin (through 2019)
One thing to know:
Washington Nationals: Jayson Werth — $21.0 million
Team: Washington Nationals
Position: Outfielder
2016 WAR: 1.1
Contract: 7 years, $126.0 million (contract expires after this season)
One thing to know: Werth recently said he wanted to play another five years — until he is 43
Chicago White Sox: James Shields — $21.0 million
Team: Chicago White Sox
Position:
2016 WAR: -0.9
Contract: 4 years, $75.0 million (through 2018 with $16.0 million team option for the 2019 season)
One thing to know: Shields was traded by the Padres to the White Sox with $57.8 million remaining on his contract. The Padres will pay $30.8 million of that, including $11.0 million this season.
Atlanta Braves: Matt Kemp — $21.5 million
Team: Atlanta Braves
Position: Outfielder
2016 WAR: 0.7
Contract: 8 years, $160.0 million (through 2019)
One thing to know: Kemp is actually being paid by three different teams this season, including $3.5 million being paid by the Dodgers and $8.5 million being paid by the Padres.
Chicago Cubs: Jason Heyward — $21.5 million
Team:
Position: Outfielder
2016 WAR: 1.6
Contract: 8 years, $184.0 million (through 2023)
One thing to know: Of the $184.0 million, $20.0 million is in the form of a "signing bonus" to paid after the contract expires. Heyward can opt out of the deal following the 2018 season. After signing the contract, Heyward agreed to pay for a hotel suite for all road games for new teammate David Ross who had recently announced it would be his final season.
Cincinnati Reds: Joey Votto — $22.0 million
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Position: First base
2016 WAR: 5.0
Contract: 10 years, $225.0 million (through 2023 with $20 million club option for 2024)
One thing to know: The Reds are in rebuilding mode, but Votto does not sound like he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause. During the offseason, Votto said, "
San Francisco Giants: Johnny Cueto — $22.0 million
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position:
2016 WAR: 5.5 Wins
Contract: 6 years, $130 million (through 2021 with a $22 million club option in 2022)
One thing to know: Cueto can opt out of his contract following the 2017 season. Even though Cueto would be walking out on the four years and $84 million left on his deal, Jeff Passan speculates that Cueto would "almost assuredly" get more than that as a free agent.
Texas Rangers: Cole Hamels — $22.5 million
Team: Texas Rangers
Position:
2016 WAR: 3.0
Contract: 6 years, $144.0 million (through 2018 with $20 million club option for 2019)
One thing to know: Hamels' 2019 option becomes guaranteed and grows to $24 million if he accumulates 200 innings pitched in 2018, 400 innings in 2017 and 2018 combined, and is not on the disabled list with an arm injury at the end of the 2018 season. The deal was the second-largest contract ever for a pitcher at the time of the signing in 2012.
New York Mets: Jose Reyes — $22.5 million
Team:
Position: Infielder
2016 WAR: 1.3
Contract: years, $ million (through)
One thing to know: Reyes was released by the Rockies during the 2016 season with $39.1 million remaining on his $106.0 million contract, including $22.0 million in salary for the 2017 season. The Mets are paying Reyes the Major League minimum.
Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer — $23.0 million
Team: Minnesota Twins
Position: First base
2016 WAR: 1.0
Contract: 8 years, $184.0 million (through 2018)
One thing to know: Largest contract ever for a catcher and the fourth-largest contract in history at the time of the signing in 2010.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Zack Greinke — $24.0 million
Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
Position:
2016 WAR: 2.2
Contract: 6 years, $206.5 million (through 2021)
One thing to know: Greinke's salary for 2017 is technically $31.0 million. However, $10.0 million of that is being deferred until after the contract expires. Greinke also received $3.0 million this year from his deferred $18.0 million signing bonus. The deferrals reduced the present-day value of the contract to $193.8 million.
New York Yankees: C.C. Sabathia — $25.0 million
Team:
Position:
2016 WAR: 2.6
Contract: 6 years, $147.0 million (expires after the 2017 season)
One thing to know: Sabathia was having a good season at age 37, but recently landed on the DL with an injured hamstring.
Los Angeles Angels: Albert Pujols — $26.0 million
Team: Los Angeles Angels
Position: Designated hitter
2016 WAR: 0.9
Contract: 10 years, $240.0 million (through 2021)
One thing to know: Pujols recently hit his 600th home run. If he can reach 763 career home runs, he will receive a $7 million bonus. He will also receive $1 million per year for 10 years after he retires as part of a "personal-services contract" with the team.
Seattle Mariners: Felix Hernandez — $26.9 million
Team: Seattle Mariners
Position:
2016 WAR: 1.0
Contract: 7 years, $175.0 million (through 2019)
One thing to know: The contract was the largest ever for a pitcher at the time of the signing in 2013.
Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander — $28.0 million
Team:
Position: First base; Starting pitcher
2016 WAR: 4.9
Contract: 8 years, $248.0 million (through 2023 for Cabrera with $30 million options for both 2024 and 2025);
One thing to know: The 2024 and 2025 options for Cabrera become fully guaranteed if he finishes in the top 10 of the MVP voting the previous season. Extension was signed with two years remaining on his previous deal, meaning he had 10 years and $292 worth of contracts remaining prior to the 2014 season. The two contracts combined have the potential to be worth as much as $460.3 million over 18 years. Verlander's
Boston Red Sox: David Price — $30.0 million
Team:
Position:
2016 WAR: 4.5
Contract: 7 years, $217.0 million (through 2022)
One thing to know: Price's deal is the largest contract ever for a pitcher. Price can opt out of the deal after the 2018 season. If he does not opt out, his salaries will grow to $31.0 million in 2019 and $32.0 million in the remaining years.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw — $33.0 million
Team:
Position: Starting pitcher
2016 WAR: 6.5
Contract: 7 years, $215.0 million (through 2020)
One thing to know: Kershaw can opt out of his contract after the 2018 season with two years and $65 million remaining on the deal. Kershaw also received a $1.0 million bonus for every Cy Young Award he wins and $500,000 each time he finishes second or third.
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