List of highest paid Major League Baseball players
The highest paid player in Major League Baseball (MLB) from the 2013 season is New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez with an annual salary of $29,000,000, $4 million higher than the second-highest paid player, Cliff Lee. MLB does not have a hard salary cap, instead employing a luxury tax which applies to teams whose total payroll exceeds certain set thresholds for a given season.[1][2] Free agency did not exist in MLB prior to the end of the reserve clause in the 1970s, allowing owners before that time to wholly dictate the terms of player negotiations and resulting in significantly lower salaries. Babe Ruth, widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players ever, earned an estimated $910,696 ($14,170,589 inflation-adjusted from 1931 dollars) over his entire playing career.[3] When asked whether he thought he deserved to earn $80,000 a year ($1,133,227 inflation-adjusted), while the president, Herbert Hoover, had a $75,000 salary, Ruth famously remarked, "What the hell has Hoover got to do with it? Besides, I had a better year than he did."[4][5]
Rodriguez has signed two record-breaking contracts over the course of his career. First, he signed a $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers in December 2000 ($346,274,783 inflation-adjusted from 2000 dollars).[6] Sandy Alderson called the deal "stupefying", while Sports Illustrated noted that Rodriguez's early salaries under the contract ($21 million) would be greater than the annual payroll of the entire Minnesota Twins team that year ($15.8 million).[6] The deal was the largest sports contract in history, doubling the total value of Kevin Garnett's $126 million National Basketball Association contract (the previous record holder) and more than doubling Mike Hampton's $121 million contract, the previous MLB record which had been signed just days before.[6] The Rangers later traded Rodriguez to the Yankees in exchange for Alfonso Soriano before the 2004 season, though they agreed to pay $67 million of the $179 million outstanding on the contract.[7] Despite this, he opted out of the remainder of his deal after the 2007 season and renegotiated a new $275 million, 10-year agreement with the Yankees, breaking his own record for the largest sports contract.[8] Under this deal, Rodriguez also receives $6 million each if and when he ties the career home run totals of Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755), and Barry Bonds (762), along with another $6 million for breaking Bonds' mark.[8]
First base was the highest paid position in 2010; regular starters at that position earned an average salary of $9,504,165 in compared to an overall average of $3,014,572.[9] Pitcher Nolan Ryan was the first player to earn an annual salary above $1 million, signing a $4.5 million, 4-year contract with the Houston Astros in 1979.[10] Kirby Puckett and Rickey Henderson signed the first contracts which paid an average of $3 million a year in November 1989, while 2010 was the first season where the MLB average salary rose above that same mark.[9][11] Five of the twenty highest paid players in 2013 were members of the Yankees. Their team payroll for 2013 was $228,835,490, roughly $12 million above the second-largest Los Angeles Dodgers.[12] The Yankees have drawn criticism for their payroll, with some claiming it undermines the parity of MLB.[13][14]
Key
Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum | |
1B | First baseman |
2B | Second baseman |
3B | Third baseman |
SS | Shortstop |
LF | Left fielder |
CF | Center fielder |
RF | Right fielder |
C | Catcher |
SP | Starting pitcher |
RP | Relief pitcher |
DH | Designated hitter |
Highest annual salaries in 2015
This table refers to the salary for 2015 alone, not the overall average value of the contract.
Name | Position | Team(s) | Salary | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
Clayton Kershaw | SP | Los Angeles Dodgers | $32,571,428 | [15] |
Justin Verlander | SP | Detroit Tigers | $28,000,000 | [16] |
Ryan Howard | 1B | Philadelphia Phillies | $25,000,000 | [17] |
Cliff Lee | SP | Philadelphia Phillies | $25,000,000 | [18] |
Zack Greinke | SP | Los Angeles Dodgers | $25,000,000 | [19] |
Felix Hernandez | SP | Seattle Mariners | $24,907,142 | [20] |
Albert Pujols | 1B | Los Angeles Angels | $24,050,000 | [21] |
Prince Fielder | DH | Texas Rangers | $24,050,000 | [22] |
Robinson Cano | 2B | Seattle Mariners | $24,000,000 | [23] |
Mark Teixeria | 1B | New York Yankees | $23,125,000 | [24] |
Career earnings
- Earnings up to date as of the end of the 2013 season.[E]
Salary progression
- This list documents the progression of the highest average annual value contracts/contract extensions.[45][P]
Average annual salary | Date signed | Name | Team | Position | Contract duration (Years) |
Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$1,170,000 | November 19, 1979 | Ryan, NolanNolan Ryan | Houston Astros | SP | 3 | [10][46] |
$2,500,000[a] | December 15, 1980 | Winfield, DaveDave Winfield | New York Yankees | RF | 10 | [47][48] |
$2,600,000 | September 4, 1985 | Murray, EddieEddie Murray | Baltimore Orioles | 1B | 5 | [49][50] |
$2,633,333[b] | February 16, 1989 | Hershiser, OrelOrel Hershiser | Los Angeles Dodgers | SP | 3 | [51][52] |
$2,970,000 | November 17, 1989 | Saberhagen, BretBret Saberhagen | Kansas City Royals | SP | 3 | [53][54] |
$3,000,000[c] | November 22, 1989 | Puckett, KirbyKirby Puckett | Minnesota Twins | CF | 3 | [55][56] |
$3,200,000 | December 1, 1989 | Langston, MarkMark Langston | California Angels | SP | 5 | [57][58] |
$3,250,000 | December 11, 1989 | Davis, MarkMark Davis | Kansas City Royals | SP | 4 | [59][60] |
$3,500,000 | January 17, 1990 | Stewart, DaveDave Stewart | Oakland Athletics | SP | 2 | [61][62] |
$3,750,000 | January 22, 1990 | Clark, WillWill Clark | San Francisco Giants | 1B | 4 | [63][64] |
$3,860,000 | April 9, 1990 | Mattingly, DonDon Mattingly | New York Yankees | 1B | 5 | [65][66] |
$4,700,000 | June 28, 1990 | Canseco, JoseJose Canseco | Oakland Athletics | RF/DH | 5 | [67][68] |
$5,380,000 | February 2, 1991 | Clemens, RogerRoger Clemens | Boston Red Sox | SP | 4 | [39][69] |
$5,800,000 | December 2, 1991 | Bonilla, BobbyBobby Bonilla | New York Mets | 3B/RF | 5 | [70][71] |
$7,100,000 | March 2, 1992 | Sandberg, RyneRyne Sandberg | Chicago Cubs | 2B | 4 | [72][73] |
$7,290,000 | December 6, 1992 | Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds | San Francisco Giants | LF | 6 | [28][74] |
$8,500,000 | January 31, 1996 | Griffey, Jr., KenKen Griffey, Jr. | Seattle Mariners | CF | 4 | [38][75] |
$11,000,000 | November 19, 1996 | Belle, AlbertAlbert Belle | Chicago White Sox | LF | 5 | [76][77] |
$11,450,000 | March 20, 1997 | Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds | San Francisco Giants | LF | 2 | [28][78] |
$11,500,000 | August 10, 1997 | Maddux, GregGreg Maddux | Atlanta Braves | SP | 5 | [36][79] |
$12,500,000 | December 10, 1997 | Martínez, PedroPedro Martínez | Boston Red Sox | SP | 6 | [44][80] |
$13,000,000 | October 26, 1998 | Piazza, MikeMike Piazza | New York Mets | C | 7 | [81][82] |
$13,333,333 | November 25, 1998 | Vaughn, MoMo Vaughn | Anaheim Angels | 1B | 6 | [83][84] |
$15,000,000 | December 12, 1998 | Brown, KevinKevin Brown | Los Angeles Dodgers | SP | 7 | [85][86] |
$15,450,000[d] | August 11, 2000 | Clemens, RogerRoger Clemens | New York Yankees | SP | 2[d] | [39][87] |
$17,000,000 | October 20, 2000 | Delgado, CarlosCarlos Delgado | Toronto Blue Jays | 1B | 4 | [43][88] |
$25,200,000 | December 10, 2000 | Rodriguez, AlexAlex Rodriguez | Texas Rangers | SS | 10 | [6][25] |
$27,500,000 | December 13, 2007 | Rodriguez, AlexAlex Rodriguez | New York Yankees | 3B | 10 | [8][25] |
See also
- List of highest paid American television stars
- List of highest paid film actors
- List of highest paid mayors
- List of salaries
Footnotes
- E "Earnings" as discussed here refers to salaries paid to players under MLB contracts and does not include advertising or other sources of income. All values are listed in nominal dollars.
- P "Average annual value" is calculated as the total value of a contract (less bonuses) divided by the number of years. A $20 million/2 year contract would have an average annual value of $10 million, even if the player actually received $9 million one season and $11 million in the other. This also does not include contracts for less than a season prorated in value for a full season such as Roger Clemens' 2006 and 2007 contracts.[39][89][90][91][92] All values are listed in nominal dollars.
- a Dave Winfield initially negotiated a 10-year deal in 1980 worth a projected $25 million ($2.5 million per year).[48] However, Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner reportedly had not fully understood a cost of living adjustment provision in it and the 10-year contract was renegotiated a few months later. The final precise value is unclear, although it fell between $20 and $25 million in total value ($2–$2.5 million a year).[47][93][94][95]
- b Hershiser and Frank Viola both won the 1988 Cy Young Award and Viola signed an identically-sized $7.9 million, 3-year contract two months after Hershiser.[96]
- c Rickey Henderson signed a $12 million, 4-year contract with the Oakland Athletics on November 28, 1989, 6 days after Puckett signed his $9 million, 3-year contract.[58][97]
- d Roger Clemens signed a contract extension during the 2000 season covering 2001 and 2002 along with a player option for 2003. Clemens was paid $10.3 million each year for 2001 and 2002, with the same $10.3 million available if he elected to play in 2003 under his option. However, Clemens also received $10.3 million if he rejected the option. As a result, he could effectively collect the full $30.9 million of contract value for only two years of play ($15.45 million annually).[87][98] However, the Yankees valued this deal as a $10.3 million annually, three-year deal.[45] He became a free agent after the 2002 season and ultimately re-signed with the Yankees for a new, one-year contract in which they bought out the previous option.[39][99]
References
- Bibliography
- "USA Today Salaries Database – Top 25". USA Today. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
- "Highest Career and Single-Season Salaries". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- Footnotes
- ↑ "MLB players, owners announce five-year labor deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 25, 2006. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Bloom, Barry (March 10, 2009). "Fehr does not foresee a salary cap". MLB.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Babe Ruth Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Hampton, Wilborn (2009). Babe Ruth: A twentieth-century life. New York: Viking. p. 162. ISBN 978-0-670-06305-5. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Stewart, Wayne (2006). Babe Ruth: A biography. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 93. ISBN 0-313-33596-6. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 "$252,000,000: A-Rod, Rangers agree to richest deal in sports history". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. December 14, 2000. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Selig gives blessing to mega-merger". ESPN.com. February 17, 2004. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 3 "Rodriguez finalizes $275M deal with Yankees". ESPN.com. December 13, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 "MLB's average salary eclipses $3M for first time". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 13, 2010. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 Belth, Alex (December 2, 2005). "From Catfish to A-Rod: Landmark moments from baseball's free-agent era". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Salary Progression Chart". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. December 14, 2000. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "2013 MLB Salaries by team". USA Today. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
- ↑ Nightengale, Bob (April 11, 2010). "Parity? Yankees, Red Sox loom large for smaller market teams". USA Today. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
- ↑ Kepner, Tyler (April 6, 2010). "Edginess Over the Yankees' Payroll". The New York Times. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
- ↑ "Clayton Kershaw". Spotrac.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ "Justin Verlander". Spotrac.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ "Ryan Howard". Spotrac.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ "Cliff Lee". Spotrac.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ "Zack Greinke". Spotrac.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ "Felix Hernandez". Spotrac.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ "Albert Pujols". Spotrac.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ "Prince Fielder". Spotrac.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ "Robinson Cano". Spotrac.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- ↑ "Mark Teixeira". Spotrac.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
- 1 2 3 "Alex Rodriguez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Derek Jeter Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Manny Ramirez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- 1 2 3 "Barry Bonds Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Randy Johnson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Mariano Rivera Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Chipper Jones Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Gary Sheffield Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Todd Helton Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Carlos Beltran Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ "Johan Santana Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 "Greg Maddux Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Ichiro Suzuki Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- 1 2 "Ken Griffey, Jr. Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Roger Clemens Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Roy Halladay Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
- ↑ "Torii Hunter Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
- ↑ "CC Sabathia Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 "Carlos Delgado Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 "Pedro Martinez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 "MLB Baseball - Salary Progression Chart". Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. December 11, 2000. Retrieved March 22, 2011 – via CNNSI.com.
- ↑ "Nolan Ryan Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 "Dave Winfield Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 Chass, Murray (December 16, 1980). "Yanks Sign Winfield for up to $25 million; $1.5 million for first year Winfield becomes Yankee". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Eddie Murray Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Boswell, Thomas (September 6, 1985). "Eddie Murray's new contract surpasses all others". Anchorage Daily News (The Washington Post). Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Orel Hershiser Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Chass, Murray (February 17, 1989). "Another record for Hershiser: $7.9 million Dodger contract". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Bret Saberhagen Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Saberhagen highest paid in baseball". Philadelphia Inquirer. November 18, 1989.
- ↑ "Kirby Puckett Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Chass, Murray (November 23, 1989). "Puckett hits the Jackpot: First $3 million man". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Mark Langston Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- 1 2 Chass, Murray (December 2, 1989). "Angels and Langston agree on $16 million". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Mark Davis Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Durso, Joseph (December 12, 1989). "Mark Davis signs with Royals for $13 million". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Dave Stewart Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Dave Stewart agrees to contract". Harlan Daily Enterprise. Associated Press. January 18, 1990. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Will Clark Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Will Clark package zooms to $15 million". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 23, 1990. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Don Mattingly Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Anderson, Dave (April 11, 1990). "Sports of the Times; Mattingly: Yankees' last tradition". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Jose Canseco Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Koppett, Leonard (June 28, 1990). "Canseco gets his pitch: $23.5 million from A's". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ Chass, Murray (February 9, 1991). "Baseball; Clemens signs for more than $5 million a year". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Bobby Bonilla Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Chass, Murray (December 3, 1991). "Baseball; How Bonilla got Mets to empty their pockets". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Ryne Sandberg Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Chass, Murray (March 3, 1992). "Sandberg becomes highest-paid player, for now". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ Chass, Murray (December 6, 1992). "Baseball; Giants make investment: $43 million in Bonds". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ Chass, Murray (February 1, 1996). "Baseball; Griffey becomes the first $8 million dollar man". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Albert Belle Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Smith, Claire (November 20, 1996). "Belle signs the richest deal: 5 years, $55 million". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Extension gives Bonds top salary". The New York Times. February 21, 1997. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ Schwartz, Jerry (August 11, 1997). "Maddux's deal heads salary list". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ Chass, Murray (December 11, 1997). "Baseball; Martinez's $75 million for 6 years raises bar". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Mike Piazza Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Diamos, Jason (October 25, 1998). "Baseball; The Mets agree to make Piazza baseball's richest player; Leiter says he is close to a $32 million deal". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Mo Vaughn Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Chass, Murray (November 27, 1998). "Baseball: On baseball; Boston, with Vaughn gone, now can't win for signing". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Kevin Brown Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Diamos, Jason (December 13, 1998). "Baseball: Brown becomes the richest in baseball". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- 1 2 Olney, Buster (August 12, 2000). "Clemens' New Deal is most unusual". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ Chass, Murray (October 21, 2000). "Plus: Baseball; Delgado becomes top-paid player". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Rocket relaunch: Clemens rejoins Astros". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 1, 2006. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Roger Clemens 2006 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Clemens to make about $4.5 million per month". ESPN.com. May 7, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Olney, Buster (May 30, 2007). "If inclined, Yankees would need Rocket's OK on trade". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ Durso, Joseph (February 9, 1981). "Dave Winfield finds baseball and business the perfect mix". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Winfield finishes business with Yankees and Padres". The New York Times. February 3, 1981.
- ↑ Richman, Milton (February 15, 1981). "Today's Sport Parade". United Press International.
- ↑ "Viola gets big pact, loss". Spokane Chronicle. Associated Press. April 20, 1989. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Rickey Henderson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Paying it forward: The Mets' cash troubles are epitomized by the story of Bobby Bonilla". Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Clemens staying put in pinstripes: Yankees' ace re-signs in pursuit of win No. 300". Edmonton Journal. December 31, 2002.