Who is the highest-paid MLB player? The top MLB salaries after Aaron Judge's new contract
Major League Baseball’s offseason has seen some major moves, shaking up the salary rankings. Aaron Judge, the reigning American League MVP, is set to finalize the largest ever contract signed by a free agent. The New York Yankees re-signed Judge to a nine-year, $360 million contract that will pay him $40 million per season and ensure the 30-year-old retires at the club.
Judge has secured his spot among the league’s highest earners. But who is the highest paid MLB player? Here are the top five at this point in the offseason.
The rankings look different depending on how you slice it.
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Who is the highest paid MLB player, by total value?
The highest paid MLB player in terms of total contract value is in a league of his own.
Trout, a three-time AL MVP, signed an extension before the 2019 season that will pay him a total of $426.5 million through 2030. His commitment is more than $60 million higher than the second largest total contract in the league – Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, 12-years, $365 million. Betts signed that deal before he became a free agent.
Who are the highest paid MLB players, by total value?
These are the league's highest paid players based on the total value of their contract, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts and staff reports.
1. Mike Trout, OF, Angels: $426,500,000 (2019-30)
2. Mookie Betts, OF, $365,000,000 (2021-32)
3. Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees: $360,000,000 (2023-32)
4. Francisco Lindor, SP, Mets: $341,000,000 (2022-31)
5. Fernando Tatis Jr., SP, Padres $340,000,000 (2021-34)
Aaron Judge contract: Judge, Yankees agree to 9-year, $360 million contract to keep AL MVP in New York
Who are the highest paid players, by average annual value?
The average annual value (AAV) takes the total value of a contract and divides it by the number of contract years.
Here are the top to highest paid major leaguers based on average annual value, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts and staff reports.
1. Max Scherzer, SP, Mets: $43,333,333 (2022-24)
T-1. Justin Verlander, RHP, Mets: $43,333,333 (2023-24)
3. Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees: $40,000,000 (2023-32)
4. Jacob deGrom, RHP, Rangers: $37,000,000 (2023-27)
5. Gerrit Cole, RHP, Yankees: $36,000,000 (2020-28)
Contributing: Steve Gardner, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB's highest paid players: Aaron Judge, Max Scherzer make the list
