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Highest-paid MLB Players of 2022

Last Updated: February 15, 2023
Boardroom highlights the top 20 most expensive players in Major League Baseball for the upcoming campaign by both total salary and team payroll impact.

Remember when Major League Baseball’s owners locked out the players? It feels like an eternity ago. Since those 99 infernal days of pastime purgatory, teams have spent more than $1 billion on free agent deals and contract extensions.

In fact, if you assumed that the most expensive player in the league for the upcoming season was, say, Bryce Harper or Manny Machado or Gerrit Cole, you’d be wrong. That’s how much new money has been flowing during this impeccably reheated Hot Stove period.

With that in mind, check out Boardroom’s list of the highest-paid MLB players for the 2022 season — both by overall compensation and effective payroll impact.

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Highest-paid MLB Players of 2022 by Total Compensation

All salary figures via Spotrac.

1. Mets SP Max Scherzer: $43,333,333
2. Rangers SS Corey Seager: $37,500,000
  • Contract: 10 years, $325,000,000
  • Average annual value: $32,500,000
t-3. Angels 3B Anthony Rendon: $36,000,000
  • Contract: 7 years, $245,000,000
  • Average annual value: $35,000,000
t-3. Yankees SP Gerrit Cole: $36,000,000
  • Contract: 9 years, $324,000,000
  • Average annual value: $36,000,000
5.Angels OF Mike Trout: $35,450,000
  • Contract: 12 years, $426,500,000
  • Average annual value: $35,541,667
6. Twins SS Carlos Correa: $35,100,000
  • Contract: 3 years, $105,300,000
  • Average annual value: $35,100,000
t-7. Tigers OF Miguel Cabrera: $32,000,000
  • Contract: 8 years, $248,000,000
  • Average annual value: $31,000,000
t-7. Dodgers SP Trevor Bauer: $32,000,000
  • Contract: 3 years, $102,000,000
  • Average annual value: $34,000,000
9. Padres 3B Manny Machado: $30,000,000
  • Contract: 10 years, $300,000,000
  • Average annual value: $30,000,000
10. Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado: $29,429,500
  • Contract: 8 years, $260,000,000
  • Average annual value: $32,500,000
t-11. Blue Jays OF George Springer: $28,000,000
  • Contract: 6 years, $150,000,000
  • Average annual value: $25,000,000
t-11. Angels OF Justin Upton: $28,000,000
  • Contract: 5 years, $106,000,000
  • Average annual value: $21,200,000
13. Mets SS Francisco Lindor: $27,000,000
  • Contract: 10 years, $341,000,000
  • Average annual value: $34,100,000
t-14. Phillies OF Bryce Harper: $26,000,000
  • Contract: 13 years, $330,000,000
  • Average annual value: $25,384,615
t-14. Astros 2B Jose Altuve: $26,000,000
  • Contract: 7 years, $163,500,000
  • Average annual value: $23,357,143
t-14. Cardinals 1B Paul Goldschmidt: $26,000,000
  • Contract: 5 years, $130,000,000
  • Average annual value: $26,000,000
t-14. Phillies SP Zack Wheeler: $26,000,000
  • Contract: 5 years, $118,000,000
  • Average annual value: $23,600,000
t-18. Astros SP Justin Verlander: $25,000,000
  • Contract: 2 years, $50,000,000
  • Average annual value: $25,000,000
t-18. Rangers 2B Marcus Semien: $25,000,000
  • Contract: 7 years, $175,000,000
  • Average annual value: $25,000,000
t-18. Reds 1B Joey Votto: $25,000,000
  • Contract: 10 years, $225,000,000
  • Average annual value: $22,500,000
t-18. Cubs SP Marcus Stroman: $25,000,000
  • Contract: 3 years, $71,000,000
  • Average annual value: $23,666,667

Highest-paid MLB Players of 2022 by Payroll Impact

NOTE: List refers to player’s effective hold on team’s 2022 payroll, as noted by Spotrac, rather than the cash he’s due to receive for the season.

1. Mets SP Max Scherzer: $43,333,333
2. Angels OF Mike Trout: $37,116,666
3. Angels 3B Anthony Rendon: $36,571,428
t-4. Yankees SP Gerrit Cole: $36,000,000
t-4. Mets SP Jacob deGrom: $36,000,000
6. Dodgers SP Trevor Bauer: $35,333,333
7. Twins SS Carlos Correa: $35,100,00
t-8. Nationals SP Stephen Strasburg: $35,000,000
t-8. Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado: $35,000,000
10. Mets SS Francisco Lindor: $34,100,000
11. Rangers SS Corey Seager: $33,000,000
t-12. Padres 3B Manny Machado: $32,000,000
t-12. Tigers 1B/DH Miguel Cabrera: $32,000,000
t-12. Dodgers SP David Price: $32,000,000
15. Red Sox SP Chris Sale: $30,000,000
16. Blue Jays OF George Springer: $29,666,666
t-17. Yankees OF Giancarlo Stanton: $29,000,000
t-17. Astros 2B Jose Altuve: $29,000,000
19. Angels OF Justin Upton: $28,000,000
20. Phillies OF Bryce Harper: $27,538,462
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Sam Dunn

Sam Dunn is the Managing Editor of Boardroom. Before joining the team, he was an editor and multimedia talent for several sports and culture verticals at Minute Media and an editor, reporter, and site manager at SB Nation. A specialist in content strategy, copywriting, and SEO, he has additionally worked as a digital consultant in the corporate services, retail, and tech industries. He cannot be expected to be impartial on any matter regarding the Florida Gators or Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter @RealFakeSamDunn.