Baseball is booming financially, and nowhere is that more evident than in the earnings of MLB’s top stars in 2025. With a mix of eye-popping contracts and lucrative endorsement deals, players like Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, and Blake Snell are redefining what it means to be a superstar in the sport.
Below, we take a closer look at the top six highest-paid MLB players this season—highlighting not only their financial figures, but also the narratives behind their earnings.
1. Juan Soto- $128.9 Million
Team: New York Mets
Age: 26
Salary: $121.9M | Endorsements: $7M
Since joining the New York spotlight (first with the Yankees and now with the Mets), Soto’s marketability has soared. At just 26, he tops the MLB earnings list thanks to a record-setting contract and a growing list of sponsors including Under Armour, Presidente, Wilson, Activision/Call of Duty, and most recently, Celsius—marking the energy drink brand’s first partnership with an MLB player.
Soto’s trajectory suggests he could become the first MLB player to cross $1 billion in career earnings, setting a new benchmark for baseball and all of sports.
2. Shohei Ohtani- $102 Million
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 30
Salary: $2M | Endorsements: $100M
Ohtani remains a global sensation. Despite deferring nearly all of his 10-year, $700 million Dodgers contract, he earns more in endorsements than any athlete in baseball history.
Brands are lining up to work with Ohtani—from New Balance to Seiko, Fanatics, and countless Japanese multinationals. On the field, he became the first player ever to post a 50/50 season (home runs and stolen bases) and earned his third unanimous MVP—more than any player in history.
He also joined Frank Robinson as the only players to win MVPs in both leagues.
3. Blake Snell- $65.6 Million
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Age: 32
Salary: $64.8M | Endorsements: $750K
Snell signed a blockbuster five-year, $182 million deal with the Dodgers after his 2024 free agency. The contract included a massive $52 million signing bonus, helping to catapult him into the top three this year.
His previous free agency was hampered by the qualifying offer (QO), which required teams to sacrifice draft picks. Free from that burden in 2024, Snell secured the bag.
4. Aaron Judge- $47 Million
Team: New York Yankees
Age: 32
Salary: $40M | Endorsements: $7M
The Yankees’ captain continues to shine on and off the field. He recently signed with Jordan Brand, became the face of Polo Est. 67 by Ralph Lauren, and joined Prime Hydration’s growing list of athletic ambassadors.
In 2024, Judge became the fastest player in MLB history to hit 300 home runs, reaching the mark in just 955 games.
5. Zack Wheeler- $42.2 Million
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Age: 34
Salary: $42M | Endorsements: $200K
One of the most consistent pitchers in the league, Wheeler signed a three-year, $126 million extension last year, which kicks in this season.
He’s accumulated 25.4 WAR since joining the Phillies, second only to Ohtani among pitchers in that span, including an NL-best 7.5 WAR in 2021.
6. Jacob deGrom- $40.3 Million
Team: Texas Rangers
Age: 36
Salary: $40M | Endorsements: $300K
Though limited to just nine starts over two seasons due to Tommy John surgery, deGrom’s contract still guarantees him top-tier pay.
His $185 million deal with Texas remains in full force, and when healthy, deGrom is arguably the most dominant pitcher of his generation. His career WHIP ranks second all-time, trailing only Addie Joss, who retired more than a century ago.
Also Read: 2025 MLB Futures Game Rosters Revealed: Check Top Prospects
Highest-Paid MLB Players in 2025 (Top 15)
| Rank | Player | Team | Salary | Endorsements | Total Earnings |
| 1 | Juan Soto | New York Mets | $121.9M | $7M | $128.9M |
| 2 | Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Dodgers | $2M | $100M | $102M |
| 3 | Blake Snell | Los Angeles Dodgers | $64.8M | $0.75M | $65.6M |
| 4 | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | $40M | $7M | $47M |
| 5 | Zack Wheeler | Philadelphia Phillies | $42M | $0.2M | $42.2M |
| 6 | Jacob deGrom | Texas Rangers | $40M | $0.3M | $40.3M |
| 7 | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels | $35.5M | $4M | $39.5M |
| 8 | Anthony Rendon | Los Angeles Angels | $38M | $0.1M | $38.1M |
| 9 | Gerrit Cole | New York Yankees | $36M | $2M | $38M |
| 10 | Carlos Correa | Minnesota Twins | $36M | $0.5M | $36.5M |
| 11 | Bryce Harper | Philadelphia Phillies | $26M | $10M | $36M |
| 12 | Corey Seager | Texas Rangers | $32M | $3M | $35M |
| 13 | Giancarlo Stanton | New York Yankees | $32M | $0.25M | $32.3M |
| 14 | Jose Altuve | Houston Astros | $30M | $2M | $32M |
| 14 | Pete Alonso | New York Mets | $30M | $2M | $32M |
Source: Sportico
