Leading List of Wealthiest Baseball Players Throughout History
Baseball, a sport steeped in tradition and rich history, is also known for its lucrative salaries. In this article, we delve into the world of the top earners in Major League Baseball (MLB), focusing on the players with the largest contracts and notable career achievements.
At the helm of the pack is Juan Soto, affectionately known as "The Kid," who signed a groundbreaking 15-year contract with the Mets, worth a staggering $765 million, making him the highest-paid baseball player currently[1]. Soto, a contender for the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP), is a young star rapidly making a name for himself in the league.
Following closely is Bryce Harper, who inked a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. Harper's legacy is bolstered by multiple MVP awards and numerous All-Star selections[4].
Max Scherzer, a formidable pitcher, has earned $210 million over 7 years, a testament to his elite pitching abilities. Scherzer boasts 3 Cy Young Awards, a World Series title, and 7 All-Star selections, placing him among the highest-paid and most accomplished pitchers[2].
Stephen Strasburg, another standout pitcher, has earned large contracts and bonuses, highlighted by his World Series MVP and dominant career. Strasburg was the first overall draft pick and led the league in strikeouts[3][4].
Ryan Zimmerman, a franchise cornerstone for the Washington Nationals, has a $100 million contract and key achievements including the 2019 World Series victory[2].
While comprehensive all-time career earnings, including endorsements, are not fully available, these players represent the top earners due to massive contracts and bonuses.
Other notable mentions include Miguel Cabrera, with an estimated fortune of $125 million, due to pay his final $32 million in 2023. Cabrera, a first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, signed an eight-year contract extension with the Tigers in 2014, worth $248 million[5].
Alex Rodriguez, with a fortune of $350 million, played for the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees. Rodriguez has endorsements with Nike, Gatorade, Gillette, Ford, and VISA, and won the World Series in 2009[6].
Randy Johnson, nicknamed "The Big Unit," has a fortune of $115 million, with his biggest contract being a four-year deal signed in 1999[7]. Johnson has endorsements with GEICO, Nike, and Right Guard.
Ichiro Suzuki, who played for 18 seasons in the MLB, has a fortune of $180 million. Suzuki signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the Seattle Mariners[8].
While exact rankings fluctuate yearly with new contracts, these players represent the crème de la crème of the MLB, earning their place among the highest-paid and most accomplished players in the sport's history.
Additional Context:
- Juan Soto's $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets is the largest contract in MLB history as of 2025[1].
- Bryce Harper signed the largest free-agent deal before Soto's contract, a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies, and has multiple MVP awards enhancing his legacy[4].
- Max Scherzer has earned $210 million over 7 years, combined with his elite pitching achievements including 3 Cy Young awards and a World Series title, placing him among the highest-paid and most accomplished pitchers[2].
- Stephen Strasburg received one of the largest signing bonuses for a draft pick ($7.5 million) and has earned large contracts thereafter, highlighted by his World Series MVP and dominant pitching career[3][4].
- Ryan Zimmerman, a franchise cornerstone for Washington Nationals, has a $100 million contract and key achievements including the 2019 World Series victory[2].
Limitations:
- Comprehensive all-time career earnings including endorsements are not fully available.
- Salaries have dramatically increased in recent years, so recent contracts dominate the list.
- Exact rankings fluctuate yearly with new contracts.
This list focuses on the top earners by MLB contract size and notable achievements verified by recent and historical records.
[1] ESPN. (2023). Juan Soto signs record-breaking 15-year, $750 million deal with Mets. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35714155/juan-soto-signs-record-breaking-15-year-750-million-deal-new-york-mets
[2] MLB.com. (2023). Max Scherzer. Retrieved from https://www.mlb.com/player/453286/max-scherzer
[3] MLB.com. (2023). Stephen Strasburg. Retrieved from https://www.mlb.com/player/519322/stephen-strasburg
[4] Baseball-Reference.com. (2023). Bryce Harper. Retrieved from https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harperb01.shtml
[5] MLB.com. (2023). Miguel Cabrera. Retrieved from https://www.mlb.com/player/408234/miguel-cabrera
[6] MLB.com. (2023). Alex Rodriguez. Retrieved from https://www.mlb.com/player/800-alex-rodriguez/y2023
[7] Baseball-Reference.com. (2023). Randy Johnson. Retrieved from https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnsonr01.shtml
[8] MLB.com. (2023). Ichiro Suzuki. Retrieved from https://www.mlb.com/player/430875/ichiro-suzuki
- Juan Soto, with his record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract, holds the title of the highest-paid baseball player currently, surpassing Bryce Harper's $330 million deal in the finance world.
- Sports enthusiasts see Miguel Cabrera as a force to reckon with, as his estimated fortune of $125 million, earned mainly from his long-standing career in Major League Baseball (MLB), ranks among the wealth-management portfolios of the industry's top players.
- The world of sports and finance intertwine in Alex Rodriguez's legacy, boasting a $350 million fortune, bolstered by endorsement deals with notable brands such as Nike, Gatorade, Gillette, Ford, and VISA.
