Top 15 Highest Paid Baseball Players

Although baseball may be under-appreciated Down Under, in America it is one of the most popular and lucrative sports around.

There’s a reason every kid over there plays Little League every Sunday. If you can rise above the masses and make it to the very top of the game, you stand to make serious amounts of coin.

Just ask this lot – the top 15 highest paid players in baseball. These guys put the money in Moneyball.

From Shortstops to Outfielders to Designated Hitters, if you excel at a particular position in the MLB there is plenty of money on offer for your services.

The highest paid MLB player at the moment might be common knowledge after their record-breaking deal, but what about the rest of the top earners?

Let’s take a look, shall we? Here are the top 15 highest paid baseball players in 2026.

Who has the Largest Contract in Major League Baseball?

Juan Soto 

Contract - $750 Million - 15 Years 

New York Mets – Left Fielder (Age 27)

Introducing the highest-paid player in Baseball – Juan Soto. The Dominican superstar’s record-breaking contract has set a new benchmark in sports history.

Soto now leads the list of the biggest contracts ever seen, solidifying his place as one of the most valuable athletes on the planet.

A generational talent with an unmatched combination of power, discipline, and clutch performances, Soto’s new deal cements his status as a cornerstone of the game.

The New York Mets have secured his services for a jaw-dropping $750 million over 15 years, ensuring his long-term future with the franchise. With this mega-deal, Soto's value transcends mere statistics, as his ability to transform an offense makes him worth every penny.

A batting prodigy with an unparalleled eye at the plate, Soto’s rise to the top has been meteoric, and his payday reflects his once-in-a-generation talent. After taking a chance through turning down an eye-watering sum two years ago, his faith in himself has well and truly been repaid. There is little doubt left in anyone's mind that this mega contract is worth it, making Juan Soto the Highest Paid Baseball player in the world.

Rest of The Top 15 Highest Paid Baseball Players

15. Carlos Correa – $32.8 million

Houston Astros – Shortstop (Age 32)

Another Shortstop on Baseball's rich list is Houston's Carlos Correa.

He re-signed with the Twins in January 2023 on a bumper six-year contract and was traded back to the Astros in July 2025, with the deal still seeing him net north of $30 million annually.

14. Kyle Tucker – $33 million

Los Angeles Dodgers – Outfielder (Age 29)

Kyle Tucker joined the World Series champion Dodgers in January 2026 on a four-year, $240 million deal.

That works out at $60 million a year on average, but because of the way the deal is structured, his 2026 salary figure comes in at $33 million.

13. Jose Altuve – $33 million

Houston Astros – Second Baseman (Age 36)

Jose Altuve has spent his entire MLB career in Houston, winning the 2017 American League MVP and World Series titles in 2017 and 2022.

In February 2024 he signed a five-year, $125 million extension that keeps him with the Astros through 2029.

12. Jose Altuve – $33 million

Houston Astros – Second Baseman (Age 36)

Jose Altuve has spent his entire MLB career in Houston, winning the 2017 American League MVP and World Series titles in 2017 and 2022.

In February 2024 he signed a five-year, $125 million extension that keeps him with the Astros through 2029.

11. Nolan Arenado – $35 million

St. Louis Cardinals – Third Baseman (Age 35)

Widely considered to be one of the best Third Basemen currently playing in the MLB and compensated as such, is St Louis’ Nolan Arenado.

Elite both offensively and defensively, Arenado’s versatility is what makes him so valuable. A seasoned slugger and ferocious fielder, there’s a reason the Cardinal’s were more than happy to break the bank to add him to their roster.

10. Anthony Rendon – $35.3 million

Los Angeles Angels – Third Baseman (Age 36)

It turns out the Los Angeles Angels have a lot of money to throw around. Anthony Rendon is the first of two Angels to appear on the MLB rich list.

After winning the World Series with the Nationals in 2019, he jumped ship to LA on a seven-year contract which sees him net about $35.3 million this season.

9. Gerrit Cole – $36 million

New York Yankees – Starting Pitcher (Age 36)

The nine-year, $324 million contract Gerrit Cole signed at the end of 2019 made history for both the Yankees and MLB Pitchers.

It became a franchise record for the New York-based side, as well as becoming the largest contract ever signed by a Pitcher in the MLB.

8. Mike Trout – $37.1 million

Los Angeles Angels – Center Fielder (Age 35)

There's nothing fishy about Mike Trout. He's an elite Center Fielder and don't the Los Angeles Angels know it.

They pay him an annual salary of just over $37 million and have done so since 2019, when he re-signed with the franchise on a 12-year $426 million deal, which at the time was the most lucrative in the history of North American sports.

7. Jacob deGrom – $38 million

Texas Rangers – Pitcher (Age 38)

Strikeout specialist Jacob deGrom has thrown himself to a sizeable payday courtesy of the Texas Rangers.

The five-time All-Star and former National League Rookie of the Year left the Mets for the Rangers in 2023 on a five-year deal that sees him take home $38 million this season.

6. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – $40.2 million

Toronto Blue Jays – First Baseman (Age 27)

The son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, Vlad Jr. committed his future to Toronto in April 2025 with a 14-year, $500 million extension.

The deal kicked in this season and is the third-biggest contract in baseball history, behind only Soto and Ohtani.

5. Zack Wheeler – $42 million

Philadelphia Phillies – Pitcher (Age 36)

No Pitcher is paid more than Zack Wheeler this season.

The Phillies ace signed a three-year, $126 million extension in March 2024 that runs through the 2027 season.

4. Bo Bichette – $42 million

New York Mets – Third Baseman (Age 28)

The Mets added another big name to their payroll in January 2026, signing former Toronto Blue Jays Shortstop Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract.

He has moved to Third Base in New York, lining up alongside Lindor and Soto.

3. Cody Bellinger – $42.5 million

New York Yankees – Outfielder (Age 31)

Cody Bellinger cashed in after re-signing with the Yankees in January 2026 on a five-year, $162.5 million deal.

A former National League MVP and Rookie of the Year with the Dodgers, his 2026 figure includes a share of his $20 million signing bonus, which lifts him to second on this year's rich list.

2. Shohei Ohtani – $70 million

Contract - $700 Million - 20 Years 

Los Angeles Dodgers – Pitcher/Designated Hitter (Age 32)

Introducing the ex- highest paid player in Baseball – Shohei Ohtani. Japanese sensation Ohtani’s mega contract not only dwarfs almost everyone else on this list, but most other athletes on the planet.

He currently sits second on this list, as well as the list of the biggest contracts in the history of sport.

A once in a generation talent who is now collecting a once in a generation pay packet courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He has already drawn comparisons to the legendary Babe Ruth and his elite contributions as both a hitter and a pitcher has seen him become the highest paid player in Baseball history.

The Dodgers have forked out $700 million over 10 years to pry him away from cross-town rivals the Angels, with few doubting it will be money well spent. Effectively Ohtani costs the same as two elite players combined, which makes sense as his two-way abilities as a hitter and pitcher place him in a unique bracket.

A jack of all trades and a master of them too, it’s not hard to see why Shohei Ohtani used to be the highest paid Baseball player… before Soto took the mantle for his own.

Once you’ve seen the eye-watering figures these diamond icons are banking, you’ll realize that in the world of Major League Baseball, everything is built to be bigger. From the history of the franchises writing those massive checks to the jaw-dropping stats that justify every cent, there’s always more to the story than just the dollar signs.

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Please note that all player salaries are in USD and are approximate figures. These are current annual salaries as of 2025-26 and do not encapsulate the total duration or value of their current contracts or include off-field revenue. If this article has picked your interest you can check out the biggest sports contracts of all time right here on the Huddle as well.