Pedro Oliveira
With recurring budget increases in the major leagues, we are seeing larger and larger contracts and longer contract lengths than ever before, in terms of years. It seems that ten years and up is the new normal for baseball stars now.
While youth may be thriving thanks to the new crop of players entering a new era of MLB, all five members of this list are under the age of 30, proving that veteran status continues to be paid with high esteem among the organizations. Another curious coincidence si that three of these five salaries are paid by New York City franchises.
In this ranking we mention the top 5 highest paid players in MLB, and we specify their current salary as well as their contract duration.
5. Jacob deGrom – New York Mets
In 2019, the Mets ace signed a five-year, $137.500.000 million dollars extension that puts him, today, as the player with the fifth-highest salary in all of the major league, with $36.000.000 million dollars to his name for what would be his ninth professional MLB season.
After an injury-filled 2021, the 34-year-old ambidextrous right-hander was on track to have the best season of his career, with a 7-2 record, 1.08 ERA, 146 strikeouts and 0.55 WHIP in 92 innings pitched with the Queens franchise. His forearm and elbow problems led the Mets to take the utmost precaution with the two-time Cy Young Award winner, who is considered the best starter in baseball today.
4. Gerrit Cole – New York Yankees
Tied for the same salary amount as deGrom, the 31-year-old veteran will enter the 2022 campaign as the highest-paid pitcher in the entire American League with a $36.000.000 million dollars salary, pertaining to the contract signed with the Yankees in 2019 free agency. The contract consisted of a nine-year, $324.000.000 million deal, which was the largest deal in MLB history for a pitcher.
Year 2021 was not the most dominant year for the Bronx organization’s ace, with a 3.23 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP and 151 hits allowed in 181.1 innings pitched, however, he led the young circuit with a 16-8 record and racked up 243 total strikeouts. Cole will continue to be an extremely important pillar for the Yankees in their quest for a postseason spot in 2022.
3. Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels
After two extremely disappointing and injury-filled years for the Angels’ third base star, 2022 seems to be the ultimate test for the 32-year-old veteran, and he is obligated to prove he deserves the third-highest paid salary in all of the major leagues. Sitting at the $36.571.428 million dollars, and being part of a seven-year, $245.000.000 million contract they agreed to in 2019 free agency, he has one of the highest salaries.
Rendon amasses a .261/.372/.436 line along with 15 homers, 24 doubles, 65 RBIs, and 53 runs scored during 110 games completed between the 2020 and 2021 campaign. Those numbers definitely can’t even cover half of what the Anaheim organization is currently paying him. But he still receives the benefit of the doubt because of a 2021 plagued by injuries to his knee and hamstring.
2. Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels
The three-time American League MVP ranks second in this list. With a salary of $37.116.666 million dollars by 2022, which is within his monster contract extension he agreed to with the Angels in 2019, and consisting of 12 years and $426.000.000 million dollars, he has the second-largest contract in American sports history.
Trout was well on his way to winning his potential fourth MVP award, and perhaps getting Los Angeles into the postseason alongside fellow star Shohei Ohtani. Unfortunately, the center fielder suffered a calf tear in May that would keep him out for the rest of the campaign. The 30-year-old veteran owned a .333/.466/.624 line with 8 home runs, 8 doubles, 18 RBIs, 23 runs scored and 2 stolen bases in 36 games played.
Year 2022 will be the ultimate test for the Angels, who hope to have Trout available for as much time as possible to maximize their chances of getting into the postseason once and for all.
1. Max Scherzer – New York Mets
During the brief window of MLB free agency in 2021, the 37-year-old ace inked a three-year, $130.000.000 million deal with the New York Mets, making him the highest-paid player in all of the major leagues, as well as the most valuable annual contract in MLB history, with a salary of $43.333.333 million for 2022.
Despite his extensive career and advanced age, Mad Max had an impressive 2021, he achieved a 15-4 record with 2.46 ERA, 236 strikeouts, 0.86 WHIP (MLB leader in the category) in only 179.1 innings pitched.
Although the Mets are a team that has not had much trouble in recent years with their pitching, the addition of Scherzer simply makes them one of the strongest teams in the entire National League, and they hope to end their postseason absence in the 2022 season.
