Who Is The Highest Paid Player In Baseball?

The highest-paid player in baseball is Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout. Trout has a base salary of $33.25 million for the 2020 season.

Mike Trout

As of September 2019, the highest paid player in baseball is Mike Trout. He is currently signed to the Los Angeles Angels and is in the middle of a twelve-year, $430 million extension. trout is a three-time American League MVP and has led the league in OPS six times.

Contract

Mike Trout, the Los Angeles Angels’ center fielder, is the highest-paid player in baseball, averaging $35.54 million per year in his 12-year, $426.5 million contract extension.

Trout’s record-setting deal, which was announced on March 19, 2019, will keep him with the Angels through 2030. It includes a $20 million signing bonus and no-trade clause. The contract also has Deferred Compensation of $5 million per year for five years after Trout retires.

In addition to his salary, Trout will also receive a percentage of the Angels’ local revenue, which is estimated to be worth an additional $2.5 million to $3 million annually. That could push the total value of Trout’s contract close to $450 million.

Trout’s extension comes just months after he signed a one-year, $20 million deal for 2019, making him baseball’s first free agent to average more than $30 million per year in annual salary.

Endorsements

In addition to his salary, Mike Trout has numerous endorsement deals that add to his income. His most notable deal is with Nike, who signed Trout to a 10-year, $1 million contract in 2013. He also has endorsement deals with Rawlings, BodyArmor, and numerous other brands. These deals likely bring in several million dollars per year for Trout.

Gerrit Cole

Cole, a right-handed pitcher, signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees in December 2019. The deal includes a full no-trade clause and an opt-out after the fifth year. Cole was acquired by the Astros in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to the 2018 season.

Contract

Cole’s contract is the richest ever for a pitcher in total value and average annual salary, topping the $217 million, seven-year deal Justin Verlander signed with the Houston Astros in 2013. It also shatters the record for the largest amount of money given to a free agent in baseball history, eclipsing outfielder Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million, 13-year pact with the Miami Marlins in 2014.

Endorsements

Cole has numerous endorsement deals, including with Adidas, New Era Cap Company, Rawlings Sporting Goods, and Topps. He also has deals with big companies outside of the baseball world like PlayStation and Bose. Cole’s most recent deal is with Tossed salad dressing company, Primal Kitchen. The three-year deal is worth $5 million.

Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper is an American professional baseball right fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB).Harper was the first overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals, and he made his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2012. As a rookie, Harper batted .270 with 22 home runs, 59 runs batted in (RBIs), and a .842 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). He was selected for the 2012 All-Star Game, becoming the youngest position player to be selected for an All-Star Game in MLB history.

Contract

Bryce Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on March 2, 2019. The contract is the largest in baseball history by total value, averaging $25.38 million per year. It also obliterates the previous record for most money given to a free agent by $10 million per year, set just last offseason by Manny Machado. Harper’s deal includes a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs.

Endorsements

Harper has endorsement deals with New Era, Gatorade, Rawlings, MusclePharm, and Under Armour. In February 2019, Harper signed a 10-year endorsement deal with Fanatics, Inc. valued at $300 million. It is the largest deal a professional athlete has ever signed with an apparel company. The deal allows Fanatics to use Harper’s name and image on an exclusive basis on a wide array of products including apparel, memorabilia and collectibles.

Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado is the highest paid player in baseball. The Colorado Rockies third baseman will earn $35.1 million in 2019, which is the most in baseball. He signed an eight-year, $260 million extension with the Rockies in February 2019.

Contract

On February 26, 2019, the Colorado Rockies and third baseman Nolan Arenado agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth $260 million. The contract, which covers Arenado’s age-28 through age-35 seasons, is the largest in baseball history in terms of total value and average annual value ($32.5 million). It includes a full no-trade clause and a opt-out clause after the 2021 season.

Endorsements

Nolan Arenado is an eight-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger who has played his entire Major League career with the Colorado Rockies. He’s a two-time National League home run champion and has led the NL in RBIs three times. He’s widely considered to be one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball.

In February 2019, Arenado signed a contract extension with the Rockies for eight years and $260 million, which made him the highest paid player in baseball history at the time. The contract includes a full no-trade clause and a $50 million signing bonus.

In addition to his salary, Arenado has earned millions more through endorsements with companies like Rawlings, New Era Cap Company, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Manny Machado

Contract

Manny Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million contract with the San Diego Padres in 2019. The record-setting deal is the largest free agent contract in baseball history, as well as the largest contract ever given to a infielder.

Machado’s career has been impressive thus far, as he’s been named to four All-Star teams and has won two Gold Glove Awards. He’s also widely considered to be one of the best young players in baseball, which is likely why he was able to command such a large contract.

Only time will tell if Machado is worth his massive contract, but he’s certainly off to a good start with his new team.

Endorsements

In 2019, Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million contract with the San Diego Padres, making him the highest-paid player in baseball history. That deal includes an opt-out clause after five years. In addition to his salary, Machado will also earn an estimated $10 million annually from endorsements.

Machado’s most lucrative endorsement deal is with adidas, who signed him to a multi-year deal in 2014. He also has deals with Rawlings, Yankee Candle, and New Era.