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The 25 highest-paid players in Major League Baseball
Salaries continue to soar in Major League Baseball as 25 players will make at least $20 million in base salary this season, up from 21 players in 2014.
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This year's group of highest-paid players includes nine starting pitchers, seven first basemen, two shortstops, two right fielders, a second baseman, a third baseman, a left fielder, a center fielder, and a designated hitter.
The New York Yankees lead the way with five players on the list, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers (4) and the Philadelphia Phillies (3).
Salaries and contract information via spotrac.com and BaseballProspectus.com.
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Starting pitcher
2014 WAR: 7.6 wins
Contract: 7 years, $215 million (through 2020)
One thing to know: Kershaw's contract is the richest deal for a pitcher in baseball history and his average annual salary of $30.7 million is the largest for any player. This year he will make about $909,000 for each start.
Team: Detroit Tigers
Position: Starting pitcher
2014 WAR: 2.8 wins
Contract: 7 years, $180 million (through 2019)
One thing to know: Verlander is in just the third year of his contract but has yet to pitch in 2015 as he has been sidelined with a strained triceps muscle and is not expected back before June.
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Position: First baseman
2014 WAR: -0.3 wins
Contract: 5 years, $125 million (through 2016)
One thing to know: Howard's contract has become a nightmare for the Phillies as they still owe him nearly $60 million and he is a shell of his former self.
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Position: Starting pitcher
2014 WAR: 1.9 wins
Contract: 5 years, $120 million (through 2015)
One thing to know: Cliff Lee's contract is nearly as bad as Ryan Howard's. While Lee is in the final year of his deal, he injured his arm and any hopes of the Phillies trading him for prospects has been eliminated.
Team: Los Angeles Angels
Position: First baseman
2014 WAR: 2.9 wins
Contract: 10 years, $240 million (through 2021)
One thing to know: Albert Pujols is 35 and still has six years and $165 million left on his contract after this year. He will have made $354 million in his career by the end of this contract.
Team: Seattle Mariners
Position: Starting pitcher
2014 WAR: 6.1 wins
Contract: 7 years, $175 million (through 2019)
One thing to know: The Mariners have a Tommy John surgery clause built into Hernandez' contract. If he misses more than 130 consecutive days of a baseball season(s) due to elbow surgery (e.g. Tommy John elbow ligament surgery) during the life of the contract, the Mariners get to keep Hernandez for the 2020 season with a salary of just $1 million.
Team: Texas Rangers
Position: First baseman
2014 WAR: -0.3 wins
Contract: 9 years, $214 million (through 2020)
One thing to know: Of the $120 million left on Fielder's contract after this season, the Detroit Tigers will pay $30 million.
Team: Seattle Mariners
Position: Second baseman
2014 WAR: 5.1 wins
Contract: 10 years, $240 million (through 2023)
One thing to know: The Mariners had a huge influx of television revenue that allowed them to go out and shock the world by giving Cano a $240 million contract.
Team: New York Yankees
Position: Starting pitcher
2014 WAR: 0.1 wins
Contract: 5 years, $122 million (through 2016)
One thing to know: After losing a ton of weight and becoming nearly unrecognizable, Sabathia intentionally put the weight back on prior to this season hoping to rediscover his old dominance.
Team: Minnesota Twins
Position: First baseman
2014 WAR: 1.7 wins
Contract: 8 years, $184 million (through 2018)
One thing to know: Mauer, who is still owed $69 million over the next three seasons after this year, recently made the move from regular catcher to full-time first baseman as a way to keep his productive bat in the lineup.
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Starting pitcher
2014 WAR: 4.3 wins
Contract: 6 years, $147 million (through 2018)
One thing to know: Zack Greinke is on pace to have his best season since winning the Cy Young Award with the Royals in 2009. Coincidentally, he can also opt out of his contract and become a free agent after this season.
Team: New York Yankees
Position: First baseman
2014 WAR: 0.9 wins
Contract: 8 years, $180 million (through 2016)
One thing to know: The Yankees appear to be stuck with Teixeira as his contract has been deemed untradeable due to his declining production in recent seasons, his injury history, and his no-trade clause. Their only hope at this point is that the early-season power he has shown will continue all year.
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Position: Starting pitcher
2014 WAR: 4.2 wins
Contract: 6 years, $144 million (through 2018)
One thing to know: Hamels is the third Phillies player in the top 13. However, unlike Ryan Howard and Cliff Lee, Hamels has been productive even if his salary doesn't fit the team's rebuilding plan. As a result, Hamels is a good candidate to be traded at some point this season.
Team: New York Yankees
Position: Starting pitcher
2014 WAR: 3.1 wins
Contract: 7 years, $155 million (through 2020)
One thing to know: Tanaka can opt out of his contract and become a free agent following the 2017 season. However, before he can do that, he needs to show that he can stay healthy as he has been pitching with a partially torn elbow ligament and is considered a Tommy John surgery waiting to happen.
Team: Toronto Blue Jays
Position: Shortstop
2014 WAR: 3.4 wins
Contract: 6 years, $106 million (through 2017)
One thing to know: Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said he is open to extending the 30-year-old Reyes by adding more years to the contract the shortstop originally signed with the Miami Marlins.
Team: Detroit Tigers
Position: First baseman
2014 WAR: 5.1 wins
Contract: 8 years, $152.3 million (through 2015)
One thing to know: Cabrera has already signed a new contract that kicks in next season. That deal lasts eight years and is worth $248 million, bringing the total package to 16 years and $400.3 million. There are two options years that could add another $60 million to the value.
Team: New York Yankees
Position: Center fielder
2014 WAR: 3.9 wins
Contract: 7 years, $153 million (through 2020)
One thing to know: One of the big free agent prizes following the 2013 season, Ellsbury is off to a hot start in his second year with the Yankees.
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: First baseman
2014 WAR: 3.5 wins
Contract: 7 years, $154 million (through 2018)
One thing to know: Gonzalez was originally signed to a long-term extension by the Boston Red Sox after being acquired in a trade from the San Diego Padres following the 2010 season. However, he played less than two seasons with the Red Sox before they traded him to the Dodgers, agreeing to pay $11.7 million of the more than $127 million left on his deal at the time.
Team: Washington Nationals
Position: Right fielder
2014 WAR: 5.0 wins
Contract: 7 years, $126 million (through 2017)
One thing to know: Werth, who was a big free-agent splash by the Nationals prior to the 2011 season, has been productive at times but has not lived up to the size of the contract.
Team: New York Yankees
Position: Designated hitter
2014 WAR: Did not play
Contract: 10 years, $275 million (through 2017)
One thing to know: Alex Rodriguez recently hit his 660th career home run, matching Willie Mays on the all-time list. A marketing contract signed by Rodriguez in conjunction with his playing contract calls for the Yankees to pay A-Rod $6 million for reaching the milestone. However, all indications are that the Yankees will refuse to pay the bonus.
Team: San Diego Padres
Position: Right fielder
2014 WAR: 1.3 wins
Contract: 8 years, $160 million (through 19)
One thing to know: The Los Angeles Dodgers are paying $18 million of Kemp's salary this year after trading him to the Padres, and will pay $14 million of the $86 million left on the deal after this year.
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Right fielder
2014 WAR: 2.6 wins
Contract: 7 years, $142 million (through 2017)
One thing to know: Crawford was a four-time All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays before bolting for a huge free-agent contract with the Red Sox. Crawford never played well in Boston and he was traded to the Dodgers less than two years into the deal.
Team: New York Mets
Position: Third baseman
2014 WAR: 1.7 wins
Contract: 8 years, $138 million (through 2020)
One thing to know: Considering his status on the team and among fans as well as his production on the field, it can be argued that Wright is one of the best bargains among baseball's highest-paid players.
Team: Colorado Rockies
Position: Shortstop
2014 WAR: 5.3 wins
Contract: 10 years, $157.8 million (through 2020)
One thing to know: Despite rumors that he could be traded, Tulowitzki is still with the Rockies. However, that could change at some point this summer as the Rockies struggle. Tulo's agent has wondered aloud if his client should demand to be traded.
Team: San Francisco Giants
Position: Starting pitcher
2014 WAR: 0.0 wins
Contract: 6 years, $127.5 million (through 2017)
One thing to know: When Cain first signed his contract it was the largest ever for a right-handed pitcher.
Team: Chicago Cubs
Position: Starting pitcher
2014 WAR: 5.6 wins
Contract: 6 years, $155 million (through 2020)
One thing to know: Technically Lester does not belong on this list because his actually salary is just $15 million. However, his huge free-agent contract with the Cubs did include a $30 million signing bonus, of which $15 million was paid this at the beginning of this season. That brings his total 2015 earnings to $30 million, tied with Clayton Kershaw.
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