Highest Paid Baseball Player Ever: Max Scherzer's Record Contracts
Max Scherzer holds the record for the largest average annual value in MLB history with a 7-year, $210 million contract signed with the New York Mets in December 2021, according to MLB.com. His $30 million average annual value surpassed the previous mark set by Gerrit Cole, making him the highest paid baseball player ever on a per-year basis at the time of signing.
Scherzer's total contract value of $210 million placed him among the top 10 largest MLB deals, with the Mets paying a guaranteed $130 million over the first three seasons. The deal included opt-out clauses and performance bonuses that could push total earnings higher, reinforcing his position as the highest paid baseball player ever in terms of contract scale.
Shohei Ohtani: The Dual-Threat Star and MLB's Highest Earner
Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023, making him the highest paid baseball player ever in total contract value, as reported by Forbes. The deal averages $70 million per year, exceeding Scherzer's previous record and reflecting Ohtani's unique two-way value as both a pitcher and hitter.
Ohtani's contract includes deferred payments, with $68 million per year deferred until 2034 or later, a structure that allowed the Dodgers to sign him without exceeding the luxury tax threshold immediately. This financial engineering made the largest contract in MLB history possible, securing Ohtani's status as the highest paid baseball player ever by total guaranteed compensation.
MLB Salary Rankings and Team Spending Leaders
Top 5 Highest Paid Baseball Players Ever by Average Annual Value
Max Scherzer's $30 million AAV with the Mets remains the highest average annual value ever, while Shohei Ohtani's $70 million AAV with the Dodgers now leads all MLB contracts in total value and annual terms. Other top earners include Gerrit Cole, Zack Wheeler, and Justin Verlander, each with contracts exceeding $200 million in total value, per Baseball-Reference.com.
The Dodgers led MLB team spending in the 2024 season with a payroll exceeding $300 million, driven by Ohtani's contract and a deep roster of high-salary veterans. The Mets, Yankees, and Phillies also rank among the highest spending teams, with the Mets' Scherzer deal still one of the largest in history, as detailed by Spotrac.