What is the average salary of an MLB player?

The Tokyo Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs kicked start the 2025 MLB season in Japan. With the traditional opening day drawing closer, the baseball fever will soon take over the country.

During the offseason, the big names of the MLB once again splashed the cash to strengthen their lineups even further. The offseason saw 4-time All-Star Juan Soto break the internet with a record-breaking $765 million deal with the New York Mets.

While Juan Soto will make millions with his deal without even doing much, there are some wondering, what is the average salary of an MLB player?

Unlike the National Football League (NFL), the National Baseball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Baseball does not have a salary cap. They instead have a luxury tax threshold. This sees some of the big market teams flex their financial muscles while acquiring some of the best players.

Okay coming back to the average salary of an MLB player topic, the 2024 season once again saw a rise in this. As per reports from the Associated Press, the salary rose by 2.9 percent. This saw the average salary of an MLB player go from $4.52 million in 2023 to $4.66 million last year.

Who is the highest-paid player in MLB?

Until December 2023, Mike Trout held the record for the biggest contract ever offered in MLB. Since then, there have been two deals that have reached or crossed the $700 million mark.

First Shohei Ohtani landed a 10-year $700 million that became a record. Just a year later in December 2024, Juan Soto broke that record with a staggering 15-year $765 million deal with the New York Mets. Among these two, who is the highest-paid player though?

While Ohtani has an AAV of $70 million, he will only earn around $2 million until the 2033 season. Around $680 million of that has been deferred for the future. From the year 2034 to 2043, Ohtani will earn this remaining amount.

Meanwhile, Soto has an AAV of $51 million as per Spotrac. However, as per Sportico, Soto will earn around $121.9 million due to a massive signing bonus in his deal. So, the Dominican international takes the crown for this highest-paid player in the league.

Highest paid-players in MLB in every position

Pitchers (Starting and relief pitchers)

Starting off with the pitchers (both starting and relief pitchers), the highest-paid pitcher in the MLB right now is Blake Snell. While Zack Wheeler will earn $42 million each season following a 3-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, Snell’s deal has some bonuses as well.

Snell was another one of the top players on whom the Dodgers splashed the cash on. He penned down a 5-year $182 million deal. Now this deal has around $65 million in deferrals which equals to $13 million each year.

The southpaw has a $52 million signing bonus. As a result of this, his yearly salary eclipses Wheeler’s. The 2-time Cy Young Award winner will make $64.8 million in salary in the 2025 season.

As for relief pitchers, the New York Mets’ Edwin Diaz holds the record for being the highest-paid relief pitcher. He will earn around $20.4 million this season.

Catchers

Moving on from the mound behind the plate. The catcher position is often one position that has been overlooked by many. The highest-paid player in this position is J.T Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 2021, J.T. Realmuto and the Phillies reached a 5-year $115.5 million contract extension. This sees him having a base salary of $23.1 million. The 29-year-old is currently in the final year of this deal and would be hoping to put pen to paper on another lucrative deal with the team.

1st Baseman

The first baseman position has seen some big names land mega-money deals. One first baseman who will be heavily looked upon this year is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as he enters the final year of his contract. He is also the highest-paid player in this position.

While Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays failed to reach a contract extension, they did avoid arbitration by reaching an agreement for a $28.5 million salary. This will make the Dominican-Canadian international, the highest-paid 1st baseman for the 2025 season.

2nd baseman

The highest-paid 2nd baseman in 2025 will be Alex Bregman. Yes Alex Bregman is technically still a third baseman but he will play in the 2B position for the 2025 season following his new deal with the Boston Red Sox.

Bregman and the Red Sox penned down a 3-year $120 million deal this offseason. This will see him earn $40 million in yearly salary. The former Houston Astros star was expected to play in the third base but Rafael Devers refused to give up that position. So Bregman will be the 2B for the Red Sox.

3rd baseman

The player who earns the most as a third baseman in the league is Anthony Rendon. Yes, Rendon is still active in the league.

The third baseman played an integral part in the 2019 season and helped the Washington Nationals win the World Series. After that season, he signed with the Los Angeles Angels on a 7-year $245 million deal. This sees him bag around $35 million in salary.

However, Rendon has struggled with injuries during his time in LA. Since his move, he has yet to play more than 60 games in a season. As for the 2025 season, he is once again on the injured list.

Shortstop

The shortstop position has generated some of the games biggest players. One of them is Francisco Lindor, who is also the highest paid-player in this position.

After making a huge name for himself at the Cleveland Guardians, Lindor joined the New York Mets after being traded by his former team. He then signed a massive 10-year $341 million contract extension with the Mets.

This deal sees Lindor earn $34.1 million in yearly salary. The second highest-paid SS is Carlos Correa who earns $33.3 million from his 6-year $200 million deal with the Minnesota Twins.

Right field

The highest-paid right fielder in the game is someone who has already been discussed above. That’s right, Juan Soto is going to be the highest-paid player in this position for the 2025 season.

The second highest-paid player in this position for the 2025 season will be someone who will return to this position – Aaron Judge. After playing in the center field for the 2024 season he is now heading back to the position. Judge will make $40 million from his 9-year $360 million from the contract and the Yankees agreed on in December 2022.

Center field

With Aaron Judge playing in the right field, the center field for the New York Yankees will be filled by Cody Bellinger. The former Los Angels Dodgers star joined the Yankees through a trade from the Chicago Cubs this offseason.

Bellinger signed a 3-year $80 million contract with the Cubs. Though he is being traded away, his salary will remain the same. The 2020 World Series winner will make $26.7 million this year, making him the highest-paid player in this part of the field.

Left field

The highest-paid left fielder in the league for another year will be Christian Yelich. The Milwaukee Brewers star signed a 7-year $188 million deal.

This deal sees him make $26.9 million in yearly salary. The second highest-paid player in this position is Teoscar Hernandez who agreed on a 3-year $66 million deal ($22 million salary) with the Dodgers.

Designated Hitter (DH)

While Shohei Ohtani has a $70 million AAV, he only makes $2 million in salary, so he is not the highest-paid DH in the league. The highest-paid DH in the MLB right now is Kyle Schwarber.

The Philadelphia Phillies star makes $19.7 million from yearly salary from his 4-year $79 million deal. He is also in the final year of his contract and could land another big deal which could see this number rise.

While the rise in average salary of an MLB player did fall down a lit bit, there are chances that it could increase heavily next year. This could see the average salary of a player reach the $5 million mark in the future.