Boardroom highlights the Major League Baseball players with the biggest salary numbers of the 2023 season, from Aaron Judge and Mike Trout to Justin Verlander, Shohei Ohtani, and beyond.
This offseason in Major League Baseball, shortstops got paid approximately $1 billion. And if you count Carlos Correa’s agreed-but-unconsummated deals with the Giants and Mets, the number is something like $420.69 billion — but we’re not mathematicians, so don’t hold us to that figure.
Suffice to say that Correa, Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, and Dansby Swanson — to say nothing of a record-setting large man in pinstripes and last year’s AL Cy Young winner — have brought home eye-popping quantities of bacon in the run up to the 2023 MLB season to join baseball’s single-season salary Pantheon.
With that in mind, check out Boardroom’s list of the highest-paid MLB players for the 2023 season and try to keep your eyes from popping out of your head (it’s not like balls and strikes; two pops and you’re out).
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Highest-paid MLB Players of 2023 by Total Compensation
All salary figures via Spotrac.
t-1. Mets SP Justin Verlander: $43,333,333
- Contract: 2 years, $86,666,666
- Average annual value: $43,333,333
- Free agency: 2025 or 2026
NOTE: Verlander’s deal contains an option for 2025 that vests if he pitches 140+ innings in 2024.
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on JV’s contract with the Mets.
t-1. Mets SP Max Scherzer: $43,333,333
- Contract: 3 years, $130,000,000
- Average annual value: $43,333,333
- Free agency: 2025
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Scherzer’s contract with the Mets
3. Yankees OF Aaron Judge: $40,000,000
- Contract: 9 years, $360,000,000
- Average annual value: $40,000,000
- Free agency: 2032
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Judge’s extension with the Yankees.
4. Angels 3B Anthony Rendon: $38,571,428
- Contract: 7 years, $245,000,000
- Average annual value: $35,000,000
- Free agency: 2027
5. Angels OF Mike Trout: $37,116,666
- Contract: 12 years, $426,500,000
- Average annual value: $35,541,667
- Free agency: 2031
6. Yankees SP Gerrit Cole: $36,000,000
- Contract: 9 years, $324,000,000
- Average annual value: $36,000,000
- Free agency: 2029
7. Rangers SS Corey Seager: $35,500,000
- Contract: 10 years, $325,000,000
- Average annual value: $32,500,000
- Free agency: 2032
t-8. Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado: $35,000,000
- Contract: 8 years, $260,000,000
- Average annual value: $32,500,000
- Free agency: 2028
t-8. Nationals SP Stephen Strasburg: $35,000,000
- Contract: 7 years, $245,000,000
- Average annual value: $35,000,000
- Free agency: 2027
10. Mets SS Francisco Lindor: $34,100,000
- Contract: 10 years, $341,000,000
- Average annual value: $34,100,000
- Free agency: 2032
11. Twins SS Carlos Correa: $33,333,333
- Contract: 6 years, $200,000,000
- Average annual value: $33,333,333
- Free agency: 2033
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on Correa’s extension with the Twins.
t-12. Yankees OF Giancarlo Stanton: $32,000,000
- Contract: 13 years, $325,000,000
- Average annual value: $32,500,000
- Free agency: 2029
t-12. Tigers DH Miguel Cabrera: $32,000,000
- Contract: 8 years, $248,000,000
- Average annual value: $31,000,000
- Free agency: 2024
t-12. Padres 3B Manny Machado: $32,000,000
- Contract: 10 years, $30,000,000
- Average annual value: $30,000,000
- Free agency: 2029
NOTE: Machado has stated his intention to opt out after the 2023 season, which would effectively make his deal five years and $131,111,111.
15. Astros 3B Alex Bregman: $30,166,666
- Contract: 5 years, $100,000
- Average annual value: $20,000,000
- Free agency: 2025
t-16. Angels SP/DH Shohei Ohtani: $30,000,000
- Contract: 1 year, $30,000,000 (avoiding arbitration)
- Average annual value: $30,000,000
- Free agency: 2024
t-16: Rangers SP Jacob deGrom $30,000,000
- Contract: 5 years, $185,000,000
- Average annual value: $37,000,000
- Free agency: 2029
Click here to read Boardroom’s deep dive on deGrom’s contract with the Rangers.
18. Astros 2B Jose Altuve: $29,000,000
- Contract: 7 years, $163,500,000
- Average annual value: $23,357,143
- Free agency: 2025
19. Rockies OF/3B Kris Bryant: $28,000,000
- Contract: 7 years, $182,000,000
- Average annual value: $26,000,000
- Free agency: 2029
20. Phillies OF Bryce Harper: $27,538,462
- Contract: 13 years, $330,000,000
- Average annual value: $25,384,615
- Free agency: 2032
Other Notable 2023 MLB Salaries
22. Phillies SS Trea Turner: $27,272,727
23. Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman: $27,000,000
t-24. Cardinals 1B Paul Goldschmit: $26,000,000
t-28. Dodgers OF Mookie Betts: $25,000,000
36. Padres OF Juan Soto: $23,000,000
53. Mets RP Edwin Diaz: $19,650,000
t-67. Braves OF Ronald Acuña Jr.: $17,000,000
t-103. Braves SP Max Fried: $13,500,000
t-179. Dodgers SP Walker Buehler: $8,025,000
t-190. Astros DH/OF Yordan Alvarez: $7,833,333
193. Padres SS Fernando Tatis Jr.: $7,714,286
t-205. Braves 2B Ozzie Albies: $7,000,000
t-228. Marlins SP Sandy Alcantara: $6,300,000
247. Mariners OF Julio Rodriguez: $5,912,500
Go Deeper on MLB Salaries & Contracts:
- Highest-paid MLB Players of 2022
- Biggest MLB Contracts of the 2022-23 Offseason
- Highest-paid MLB Players of All Time
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