Who is the Highest Paid Baseball Player Today?
The highest paid baseball player today is Mike Trout, who signed a record-breaking $426.5 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels in March 2019. Trout’s average annual salary of $36 million is the highest in MLB history.
Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez, also known by his nicknames “A-Rod” and “Pudge”, is an American baseball shortstop and third baseman who currently plays for the New York Yankees. He is one of the most accomplished and popular players in Major League Baseball (MLB), and has been selected for thirteen All-Star teams, winning three American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, ten Silver Slugger Awards, and two Gold Glove Awards.
Early Life and Amateur Career
Alex Rodriguez was born on July 27, 1975, in the Washington Heights section of New York City. His parents, Lourdes and Victor Rodriguez, had emigrated from the Dominican Republic; Victor worked as a taxi driver and Lourdes was a secretary. Rodriguez remained close to his siblings—sister Suzy and brothers Joe and Vic—throughout his life. As a boy, he enjoyed playing baseball with friends in the neighborhood, and his natural talents as an athlete were evident early on. He attended Christopher Columbus High School, where he excelled in baseball, basketball, and football. After graduation, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round of the 1993 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft.
Professional Career
Rodriguez began his professional career as one of the sport’s most highly touted prospects and is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He signed with the Seattle Mariners at age 18, and joined the major league club in 1994. In 1996, he became the Mariners’ starting shortstop, won the American League (AL) batting championship, and finished second in voting for the AL Most Valuable Player Award. Rodriguez was one of sport’s most highly paid players in 2001 when he signed a 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers. Film director Kevin Costner had read an article in Sports Illustrated about Rodriguez which inspired a pivotal scene in For Love of the Game (1999).
During his time with Texas (2001–2003), Rodriguez helped lead the Rangers to two consecutive American League West division championships. In 2003, he was traded to the New York Yankees where he played for ten seasons. While a member of the Yankees, Rodriguez won another AL batting title in 2005 and received MVP honors following his second consecutive 50+ home run season—one of only four players ever to achieve such a feat—in 2007. Between 2005 and 2007,Rodriguez averaged 54 home runs, 158 runs batted in (RBI), and a .315 batting average per season.[9] After opting out of his contract following the 2007 season, Rodriguez signed a new 10-year deal with New York worth $275 million; at $27.5 million per year on average over those ten years it was then by far baseball’s richest contract ever.
During his first four seasons with New York (2008–2011), he achieved some surpassing some of baseball’s most revered records.[10] Rodríguez became just fifth player to hit 500 homers while also attaining 3,000 hits.[11][12] Additionally during this span he became Major League Baseball’s all-time leader among shortstops for career home runs after hitting his 259th homerun on August 4th 2009,[13] passing Cal Ripken Jr., who had previously held that position since 1997; on June 10th 2010 A-Rod also passed Lou Gehrig as Major League Baseball’s all time leader for grand slams.[14] He continued breaking records throughout 2010 as well: on August 5th 2010 he reached 2,000 RBI becoming just 38th player ever to reach this plateau;[15] later that same year on October 18th A-Rod became first player ever to have twelve 100 RBI seasons when compiling 103 en route to helping lead New York Yankees to their 27 World Series championship against their crosstown rivals Mets ; this achievement surpassed Hank Aaron who had accumulated eleven such seasons himself throughout his iconic career . A drug scandal involving performance-enhancing substances led him to serving a 1-year suspension from professional baseball without pay from 2014 through 2015;[16][17], as a result any accomplishments made by him during those seasons have been widely discredited by many within sports media and among baseball fans alike .
Salary
As of the 2019 season, Alex Rodriguez is the highest paid baseball player with an annual salary of $29 million. He is followed by Albert Pujols who earns $28 million per year and Miguel Cabrera who earns $27 million per year.
Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols is a Dominican-American professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a ten-time MLB All-Star, two-time World Series champion, and the recipient of three National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, among many other career achievements. As of 2019, Pujols is the highest-paid baseball player in MLB history.
Early Life and Amateur Career
Albert Pujols was born on January 16, 1980, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the eldest of four children of Angie and Bienvenido Pujols. His father was a softball pitcher and his mother a factory worker. When Albert was two years old, his family moved to New York City and then to the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan when he was four. Growing up, Pujols played shortstop for his local youth baseball teams—the Morningside Bengals in Manhattan and the Riis Red Storm in Queens—and idolized Alex Rodriguez. His family eventually settled in Independence, Missouri.
Pujols attended Fort Osage High School in Independence, where he played shortstop for the team. As a sophomore in 1996, he batted .522 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs (runs batted in). In his junior year of 1997, pujols hit .613 with 12 homers and 36 RBIs before breaking his left ankle sliding into home plate.[10] Despite this injury, he still batted .458 with five home runs while missing part of the season.[11] As a senior, Pujols batted .825 (41-for-50) with 15 home runs, 39 RBIs and 45 stolen bases.[12] High school scouts did not think much of his prospects as a baseball player because he was so small at 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) and 165 pounds (75 kg).
Pujols was not selected until the 13th round—402nd overall—of the 1999 Major League Baseball draft by the St. Louis Cardinals directed by Jeff Luhnow. While other top prospects like Josh Hamilton were signed earlier for millions of dollars and sent directly to Minor League Baseball (MiLB), Pujols received only a $10,000 signing bonus from the Cardinals that required him to play for one their rookie league affiliates instead.[13]
Professional Career
Pujols was born on January 16, 1980, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He grew up playing baseball with his father, who taught him the importance of hard work and dedication to the sport. After high school, Pujols was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent in 1999.
He made his Major League debut with the Cardinals in 2001 and quickly established himself as one of the best young players in baseball. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award that season and followed it up with a batting title and MVP Award in 2003. Since then, Pujols has been named to 10 All-Star teams and has won three NL MVP Awards (2005, 2008, 2009). He has also helped lead the Cardinals to two World Series titles (2006, 2011).
In 2012, Pujols signed a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim worth a reported $254 million. He is currently the highest-paid player in baseball history.
Salary
Albert Pujols is a Dominican-American professional baseball player who is the highest paid baseball player in MLB history. As of 2019, Pujols has a salary of $30 million. He has played for the Los Angeles Angels since 2012 and has been with the team for seven seasons. Pujols hasPreviously, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 2001 to 2011.
Pujols is a 10-time MLB All-Star and has won three National League MVP Awards and two World Series Championship titles. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
Miguel Cabrera
Miguel Cabrera, a professional baseball player, is the highest paid baseball player today. He is a first baseman and third baseman for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). As of April 2018, he has a 10-year, $248 million contract with the Tigers.
Early Life and Amateur Career
Miguel Cabrera was born on April 18, 1983, in Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela. As a young child, Cabrera was introduced to baseball by his father, who coached a local youth team called the Tigres del Carmen. When Cabrera was 10 years old, he began playing for the Tigres del Carmen and quickly developed into a star player.
In 1999, at the age of 16, Cabrera was signed by the Florida Marlins as an amateur free agent. He was assigned to play in the Marlins’ minor league system and made his professional debut that same year with the Gulf Coast League Marlins. In 2000, he played for the Kane County Cougars of the Class A Midwest League and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player after batting .360 with 13 home runs and 36 RBIs.
Cabrera made his major league debut with the Marlins in 2003 at the age of 20. He played in 55 games for the Marlins that season and hit .268 with five home runs and 23 RBIs. Cabrera became a regular starter for the Marlins in 2004 and had a breakout season, batting .294 with 34 home runs and 112 RBIs. He finished third in voting for National League Rookie of the Year behind winner Jason Bay of the Pittsburgh Pirates and runner-up Conner Jackson of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Professional Career
Miguel Cabrera is a professional baseball player who has played for the Detroit Tigers since 2008. He previously played for the Florida Marlins from 2003-2007. Cabrera is a catcher and first baseman. He bats and throws right-handed.
Cabrera was born in Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela, on April 18, 1983. He began his professional career with the Tigres de Aragua of the Venezuelan Winter League in 1999. In 2000, he was signed by the Florida Marlins as an amateur free agent.
He made his Major League debut with the Marlins on June 20, 2003. In 2004, Cabrera was traded to the Detroit Tigers as part of a eight-player deal that sent Dontrelle Willis to the Marlins.
Cabrera has won numerous awards throughout his career, including two American League Most Valuable Player Awards (2012 and 2013), four Silver Slugger Awards (2011, 2012, 2013, and 2015), and two Hank Aaron Awards (2012 and 2013). He was also named the Tiger of the Year four times by the Detroit Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (2010-2013).
Salary
Between 2012 and 2023, Cabrera will be paid $248 million dollars in salary alone. That’s an average of $24.8 million per season, making him the highest paid player in baseball history. And that’s not including the $30 million signing bonus he received when he first joined the Tigers. Miguel Cabrera is currently in the sixth year of an eight-year, $248 million contract extension he signed with the Detroit Tigers in 2014. The deal made him the highest-paid player in baseball history at the time.
Joey Votto
Joey Votto is the highest paid baseball player today, with a salary of $22.5 million. He is a first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, and has been with the team since 2007. Votto is a six-time All-Star, and was the National League MVP in 2010. He is known for his plate discipline, and has led the National League in on-base percentage six times.
Early Life and Amateur Career
Joseph Daniel Votto was born on September 10, 1983, in Toronto, Ontario, and grew up in Etobicoke, a district in the west end of the city. His parents were both of Italian descent. Votto’s father, Joseph Votto Sr., was a chef originally from Bracciano, Italy. His mother is Shirley Horner Votto of Richmond Hill, Ontario. Joe has two older brothers: Roberto and Fabio; and two younger sisters: Lisa and Micheline. As a child he played hockey rather than baseball. He did not begin playing organized baseball until he was 14 years old. vodka shifted his athletic focus from hockey to baseball when his career was almost ended by serious head injuries suffered during fights on the ice.
Professional Career
Joey Votto is a Canadian professional baseball player who plays first base for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays. Votto is a five-time MLB All-Star and he has won the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player Award once, in 2010. As of 2019, he is the highest-paid player in baseball, with a salary of $28 million.
Votto made his MLB debut in 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds, and was named the NL Rookie of the Year. In 2010, he became the first Reds player to win the NL MVP Award since Barry Larkin in 1995. That year, he also led the major leagues in on-base percentage (.424), and became the first Canadian to win a major league batting title (.324). Votto has won two Silver Slugger Awards, one Hank Aaron Award, and one Golden Glove Award. He has also been selected as an All-Star six times: four times as a starter (2011–2014) and twice as a reserve (2015–2016).
Salary
As of the 2019 season, Joey Votto is the highest paid baseball player with a salary of $25.5 million. He is followed by Miguel Cabrera at $30 million, Giancarlo Stanton at $26 million, and Zack Greinke at $24 million.
Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is currently the highest-paid player in baseball, as well as the richest contract ever given to a pitcher in MLB history.
Early Life and Amateur Career
Clayton Kershaw was born in Dallas, Texas, on March 19, 1988. Kershaw’s parents divorced when he was 10, and he was raised by his mother, Marianna. He played in Little League Baseball as a child but gave up the sport at age 13 after repeatedly throwing up on the mound. Instead, Kershaw became interested in basketball and chose to focus on that sport in high school.
As a teenager, Kershaw began to experience back pain, which led him to visit a chiropractor. The chiropractor suggested that Kershaw try baseball again to help alleviate the back pain. Kershaw took the advice and began playing baseball again at Highland Park High School.
Kershaw was drafted out of high school by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006. He chose not to sign with the Dodgers and instead attended Texas A&M University. In 2007, his freshman year of college, Kershaw made 14 starts for the Aggies and had a 7-5 win-loss record with a 4.26 earned run average (ERA). In 2008, his sophomore year, he again made 14 starts but had an improved ERA of 2.96 and finished the season with a 9-4 win-loss record as the Aggies made it to the NCAA tournament.
Professional Career
Clayton Kershaw was drafted seventh overall in the 2006 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made his Major League debut on May 25, 2008, and pitched 62 innings that season, going 5–5 with a 4.26 ERA. In 2009, he pitched 172 innings and finished the year 13–10 with a 2.79 ERA, 239 strikeouts, and just 36 walks; his 1.65 SO/BB ratio led MLB. Kershaw was selected as the National League Rookie of the Year.[10] He was also nominated for the NL Cy Young Award, which he finished second in voting to Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants.[11][12]
Kershaw began 2010 by pitching eight scoreless innings on Opening Day against the Pittsburgh Pirates; he struck out nine batters while allowing just two hits and no walks en route to a 2–0 victory.[13] On April 27, he struck out a career-high 15 batters in a 3–2 home victory over the San Diego Padres.[14][15] Kershaw pitched his first shutout on July 28, 2010, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9–0.[16][17] He ultimately won 18 games (tied for second in MLB behind only Roy Halladay), posted an ERA of 2.91 (third behind only Ubaldo Jiménez and Adam Wainwright), and struck out 212 batters (second behind only Josh Johnson).[18] For his efforts, Kershaw was selected as both an All-Star Game starter[19] and as the National League Cy Young Award winner – becoming only the second Dodger ever to win that award after Sandy Koufax accomplished it thrice (1965–66 & 1963).[20][21] In addition to being named National League Rookie of the Year in 2009,[22][23] Kershaw is one of only three pitchers to win both a Cy Young Award and NL Rookie of the Year honors in their careers;[24][25] He accomplished this feat alongside Dwight Gooden (1984) and Bret Saberhagen (1985). The other twenty-seven members of this group are all position players.
After another solid season in 2011,[26] in which Kershaw won 17 games with an 2.28 ERA,[27][28] he captured his second consecutive NL Cy Young Award on November 14,[29][30] becoming just ninth player ever to repeat as winner (and first since 2005 when Roger Clemens became first ever pitcher to repeat).[31][32][33] In addition to winning back-to-back Cy Young Awards between 2011 & 2012 seasons Clayton Kershaw also became first left-handed pitcher ever,[34][35]; third player overall after Sandy Koufax & Greg Maddux who captured at least three major pitching awards within two years span: NL MVP along with two consecutive CY Young awards between 1963 & 1966 seasons along with CY Young & WS MVP between 1992 & 1995 seasons respectively.[36][37]”
Salary
As of the 2019 season, Clayton Kershaw is the highest paid baseball player with an annual salary of $33,000,000. He signed a 7-year, $215 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014. Kershaw has won 3 Cy Young Awards, an MVP Award, and is a 7-time All-Star.
