Who Is The Highest Paid Baseball Player Right Now?

The answer to this question may surprise you. We take a look at the highest paid baseball player right now and how they got to that position.

Mike Trout

Mike Trout is not only the highest paid baseball player in the MLB, but he is also one of the highest paid athletes in the world. The 27-year-old Los Angeles Angels outfielder is currently in the middle of a 12-year, $426.5 million contract, which is the biggest contract in baseball history. Trout’s salary for the 2019 season is $33.25 million.

2019 Salary

As of 2019, Mike Trout is the highest paid baseball player with a salary of $35.5 million. He is followed by Nolan Arenado at $26 million and Gerrit Cole at $25 million.

Career Earnings

As of September 2019, Mike Trout’s career earnings are $438.9 million. He is currently the highest paid baseball player in the world. Trout signed a 12-year, $426.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Angels in March of 2019. The deal includes a full no-trade clause and takes him through the 2030 season. It is the largest contract ever given to a baseball player in terms of total value.

Endorsements

In addition to his salary, Mike Trout has numerous endorsement deals that add to his total earnings. He has deals with Nike, BodyArmor, Fanatics, Topps, and Old Hickory just to name a few. His newest deal is with baseball card company Topps. In 2019, Trout signed a 10-year extension with the company that is worth a reported $1 million per year. This deal will keep Trout associated with Topps through 2030.

Nike is one of Trout’s longest-standing sponsors. He first signed with the company in 2013 and signed an extension in 2014 that was reportedly worth $1 million annually. In 2018, he signed another extension with Nike that was reportedly worth between $20-$24 million over a multi-year period. Nike produces Trout’s signature cleats as well as Trout-branded apparel.

Trout has been sponsored by BodyArmor since 2016. He is one of the faces of the sports drink company and has appeared in numerous commercials for them. In 2018, it was reported that Trout’s deal with BodyArmor was worth $50 million over seven years. This made him the most valuable endorser in the company’s history at the time.

Trout also has deals with companies like Upper Deck, Rawlings, and Majestic Athletic. These companies produce products like baseball cards, gloves, and batting practice jerseys that carry Trout’s name and likeness. According to Forbes, all of these endorsement deals likely add up to more than $5 million per year for Trout on top of his annual salary.

Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper is currently the highest paid baseball player, making $330 million over 13 years. Harper was drafted by the Washington Nationals first overall in the 2010 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2012. Harper was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2012. He has been selected to six All-Star Games. Harper won the 2015 National League Most Valuable Player Award.

2019 Salary

In 2019, Bryce Harper will earn a base salary of $10 million, while his signing bonus and other performance-based incentives could raise his total compensation to as much as $30 million. Harper will become a free agent after the 2018 season.

Harper signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals in August 2010. He was called up to the majors in April 2012 and made his debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Harper was selected for the 2012 All-Star Game, becoming the youngest position player ever to be chosen for an All-Star team at 19 years old. He won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award in 2012.

Career Earnings

Bryce Harper is an American professional baseball right fielder who is currently a free agent. Harper was selected by the Washington Nationals with the first overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2012. As of 2019, Harper’s career earnings are estimated to be over $35 million.

Endorsements

In addition to his massive contract, Harper has also made a killing off of endorsements. In 2019, Forbes estimated that Harper made $9 million dollars from endorsements alone. His biggest deals are with T-Mobile, Gatorade, and Under Armour. He also has endorsement deals with New Era Cap Company, Fanatics, and Topps.

Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw is the highest paid baseball player right now. He is a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers and has a salary of $33 million. Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and he also won the National League MVP Award in 2014.

2019 Salary

As of 2019, Clayton Kershaw is the highest paid baseball player with an annual salary of $33,000,000. He is followed by Mike Trout who makes $33,000,000 per year.

Career Earnings

Kershaw has earned more than $200 million in salary and endorsements during his career, making him the richest baseball player ever. He has a record of 149–69 with an ERA of 2.43.

Endorsements

Kershaw’s many endorsements include Muscle Milk, Adidas, Wilson, and Rawlings. In 2014, he signed an exclusive autograph deal with Topps. In January 2015, Kershaw partnered withartnaturals to promote their all-natural line of hair and skin products. In 2015, Kershaw was ranked as the seventh most marketable athlete in the world by Forbes.

Zack Greinke

The Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher is in the second year of a six-year, $206.5 million contract. In 2017, he was the National League’s Cy Young Award winner after going 17-7 with a 2.60 ERA. He’ll make $34 million in 2018.

2019 Salary

Zack Greinke signed a six-year, $206.5 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2015. He is currently the highest paid baseball player in 2019, earning an annual salary of $34.42 million.

Greinke was born in Orlando, Florida and played his first season of professional baseball with the Kansas City Royals in 2004. He was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010 and then to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2012. He signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015.

Greinke has been selected for six All-Star teams and has won five Gold Glove Awards. He was the American League Cy Young Award winner in 2009 and finished second in voting for the National League Cy Young Award in 2015.

Career Earnings

As of 2019, Zack Greinke has earned a total of $172,942,857 in his career. He is currently the highest paid baseball player, making $34,000,000 per year. Greinke signed a 6 year / $206,500,000 contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015.

Endorsements

As of May 2019, Greinke has endorsement deals with Mizzen+Main, Nike, Wilson, and Rawlings. He also has a deal with Topps to appear on baseball cards. In 2017 he signed a three year deal with Fantastic Cave Adventure to be the spokesperson for their products.

Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado is the third baseman for the Colorado Rockies. He has been with the team since 2013 and is currently the highest paid baseball player. In 2019, he signed an eight-year contract extension with the Rockies worth $260 million. This made him the highest paid baseball player at the time.

2019 Salary

Nolan Arenado is an American professional baseball third baseman who plays in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies. After breakout performances in 2015 and 2016 where he became one of baseball’s best players, Arenado signed a contract extension with the Rockies prior to the 2017 season worth a guaranteed $260 million, the richest deal ever for a third baseman at the time. In 2019, he will earn a salary of $26 million.

Career Earnings

Nolan Arenado is an American professional baseball third baseman who plays for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Rockies in 2013. As of 2019, Arenado has a .291 batting average, 185 home runs, and 583 RBIs in six seasons.

In 2019, Arenado signed an eight-year extension with the Colorado Rockies worth $260 million, making him the highest-paid third baseman in baseball history. With this extension, he will earn an average of $32.5 million per year from 2020 to 2027.

Endorsements

Nolan Arenado has many endorsement deals, including Rawlings, New Era Cap Company, Nike, and Topps. He also has his own signature baseball bat with Marucci.