In case your future baby exhibits even a glimmer of athletic potential, you would possibly need to hand them a glove and a bat. Within the high-stakes world {of professional} sports activities, no main American league is as financially rewarding or as structurally safe as Main League Baseball. Not solely do MLB gamers usually earn extra over the course of their careers than NFL or NHL gamers, however additionally they benefit from the uncommon luxurious of totally assured contracts. Meaning if a baseball participant indicators a $300 million deal after which suffers a career-ending damage the following day, he nonetheless will get paid each penny.
That type of monetary safety does not exist in soccer, the place contracts are sometimes non-guaranteed and riddled with efficiency clauses. Even the NBA, the place contracts are assured, does not fairly stack up in profession earnings for many gamers as a consequence of shorter common profession lengths. Sure, there are exceptions. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry will all retire with large earnings. However when it comes to constant long-term wealth accumulation, baseball is king.
And the numbers again it up. Over the previous 20 years, we have watched MLB gamers signal a sequence of jaw-dropping megadeals: $252 million, $275 million, $330 million, $426.5 million, $500 million, $700 million, and now a record-setting $765 million. Because of a mix of expertise, timing, and leverage, baseball’s largest stars have turned their careers into generational fortunes. Beneath, we have compiled the up to date leaderboard of the best profession earnings in baseball historical past. It’s a completely completely different world from the listing we printed in 2014, which, frankly, seems to be quaint by at present’s requirements.
The Rise of the Mega-Contract
It began with Alex Rodriguez. In 2000, A-Rod signed a 10-year, $252 million cope with the Texas Rangers. On the time, it was the biggest contract within the historical past {of professional} sports activities. Simply seven years later, he shattered his personal file by inking a brand new 10-year, $275 million cope with the Yankees. These contracts, mixed with profitable endorsement offers and playoff bonuses, helped Rodriguez retire with over $455 million in profession earnings.
However baseball did not cease there. The next decade noticed a wave of billion-dollar spending sprees. The Phillies gave Bryce Harper $330 million. The Angels gave Mike Trout $426.5 million. The Padres gave Manny Machado $350 million. The Yankees gave Aaron Choose $360 million. After which got here Shohei Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023, though many of the cash is deferred till effectively into the 2040s.
That file did not final lengthy. In December 2024, Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets. It immediately set a brand new high-water mark not only for baseball, however for all skilled sports activities globally. If you zoom out and have a look at profession earnings, utilizing assured salaries solely and excluding endorsements or bonuses, the sport’s largest earners are already in a league of their very own.
Prime 25 Highest Profession Earnings in MLB Historical past
All figures replicate base MLB wage solely. Endorsements, bonuses, and deferred curiosity should not included.
Alex Rodriguez – $455.2 million (1994 to 2016) Justin Verlander – $419.2 million (2005 to current) Miguel Cabrera – $400.4 million (2003 to 2023) Max Scherzer – $366.6 million (2008 to current) Albert Pujols – $346.5 million (2001 to 2022) Zack Greinke – $338.5 million (2004 to current) Stephen Strasburg – $320.5 million (2010 to current) Mike Trout – $319.3 million (2011 to current) Clayton Kershaw – $307.2 million (2008 to current) David Value – $271.0 million (2008 to 2022) Bryce Harper – $256.8 million (2012 to current) Manny Machado – $253.5 million (2012 to current) Robinson Canó – $248.7 million (2005 to 2022) Aaron Choose – $236.0 million (2016 to current) Gerrit Cole – $230.1 million (2013 to current) Jon Lester – $198.0 million (2006 to 2021) CC Sabathia – $193.0 million (2001 to 2019) Chris Sale – $182.5 million (2010 to current) Anthony Rendon – $180.0 million (2013 to current) Jason Heyward – $179.5 million (2010 to current) Joey Votto – $175.0 million (2007 to 2023) Yu Darvish – $173.0 million (2012 to current) Nolan Arenado – $170.0 million (2013 to current) Carlos Correa – $168.0 million (2015 to current) Troy Tulowitzki – $164.0 million (2006 to 2019)
Trying Forward: The $500M, $700M, and $765M Membership
There is a new class of gamers on deck poised to eclipse the present leaders. Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract is technically the biggest in historical past, although solely $2 million per 12 months will likely be paid through the contract time period. Most of his earnings will not depend towards his profession complete for many years. Juan Soto, alternatively, is incomes his $765 million in actual time. If he performs via the total deal, he’ll finish his profession as the primary baseball participant to truly take dwelling greater than $700 million in assured MLB wage.
After which there’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who signed a 14-year, $500 million extension with the Blue Jays in 2025. If all goes based on plan, he could possibly be the third member of this ultra-exclusive membership.
One factor is evident. Baseball’s monetary ceiling is nowhere close to its peak, and the following technology is already cashing in.