Who are the highest-paid baseball players for the 2023 MLB season?
Despite the massive contracts signed by Aaron Judge with the Yankees and Rafael Devers with the Red Sox, they aren’t actually the top earners in MLB.
As we prepare to witness the 2023 World Series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks, one can’t help but reminisce on the season that was. From Aaron Judge’s heroics to the drama surrounding the Angels’ two-way sensation, Shohei Ohtani, it’s been a wild ride, and in the middle of it all, there’s been a whole lot of cash thrown around. That of course brings us to the focal point: Who’s making the big bucks in the league and just how much are we talking?
Shohei Ohtani leads the pack
Since he arrived in 2018, Shohei Ohtani has made breaking records a norm. Among the accolades that he’s earned, he was named the American League’s MVP and All-Star as both a hitter and pitcher. There was also the small matter of him leading his national team to glory in the World Baseball Classic, during which he also picked up an MVP award.
With achievements like that, it should come as no surprise that the 29-year-old is also doing the same off the field. To be clear, Ohtani earnings - endorsements included - are now the highest in MLB history and quite frankly on par with what normally is expected from NBA stars and icons of soccer. How much you ask? If we take a look at just his endorsement deals, Ohtani pocketed approximately $40 million in 2023. With his salary included, the Angels star earned roughly $70 million in 2023, which puts him ahead of Max Scherzer ($60.3 million), Justin Verlander ($44.3 million) and Aaron Judge ($44 million) in annual earnings.
Who else makes the list of highest-paid MLB players?
As you can plainly see the likes of Scherzer, Verlander, and Judge are all up there with Ohtani, but there are a few others out there who are most definitely among the league’s highest earners. Take a look below to see who they are and where they stand:
| Rank | Player | Team | Salary | Endorsements | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Angels | $30 million | $40 million | $70 million |
| 2 | Max Scherzer | New York Mets | $58.33 million | $2 million | $60 million |
| 3 | Justin Verlander | New York Mets | $43.3 million | $1 million | $44.3 million |
| 4 | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | $40 million | $4 million | $44 million |
| 5 | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels | $35.5 million | $5 million | $40.5 million |
| 6 | Anthony Rendon | Los Angeles Angels | $38 million | $250K | $38.3 million |
| 7 | Gerrit Cole | New York Yankees | $36 million | $1.5 million | $37.5 million |
| 8 | Corey Seager | Texas Rangers | $35 million | $2 million | $37 million |