Alex Rodriguez Is the Highest Paid Player in Baseball, Again
Here are the 25 highest paid baseball players for the upcoming season, sorted by their 2012 salaries. Included are the terms of each players’ contracts.
Alex Rodriguez still owns the largest contract in baseball history.
Where’s Albert Pujols and his recently signed 10-year $250 million contract? Well, it’s backloaded. He’s “only” making $12 million this year, but starting in 2014 he’ll make $23M, with an additional million added to that every year through 2021, when his base salary will be an insane $30M. Pujols will be 41 then.
Thanks to my fantastic source, which you must check out, spotrac.com.
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| PLAYER | TEAM | 2012 | CONTRACT | AVG SALARY | THROUGH | |
| 1. | Alex Rodriguez | YANKEES | 29.0 | 10/$275 | 27.5 | 2017 |
| 2. | Johan Santana | METS | 24.0 | 6/$137.5 | 22.92 | 2013* |
| 3. | C.C Sabathia | YANKEES | 23.0 | 8/$186 | 23.25 | 2017 |
| 3. | Joe Mauer | TWINS | 23.0 | 8/$184 | 23.0 | 2018 |
| 3. | Prince Fielder | TIGERS | 23.0 | 9/$214 | 23.78 | 2020 |
| 6. | Mark Teixeira | YANKEES | 22.5 | 8/$180 | 22.5 | 2016 |
| 7. | Cliff Lee | PHILLIES | 21.5 | 5/$120 | 24.0 | 2015* |
| 8. | Miguel Cabrera | TIGERS | 21.0 | 8/$152.3 | 19.04 | 2015 |
| 8. | Adrian Gonzalez | RED SOX | 21.0 | 7/$154 | 22.0 | 2018 |
| 8. | Vernon Wells | ANGELS | 21.0 | 7/$126 | 18.0 | 2014 |
| 11. | Justin Verlander | TIGERS | 20.0 | 5/$80 | 16.0 | 2014 |
| 11. | Ryan Howard | PHILLIES | 20.0 | 5/$125 | 25.0 | 2016* |
| 11. | Roy Halladay | PHILLIES | 20.0 | 3/$60 | 20.0 | 2013* |
| 14. | Carl Crawford | RED SOX | 19.5 | 7/$142 | 20.29 | 2017 |
| 15. | Barry Zito | GIANTS | 19.0 | 7/$126 | 18.0 | 2013* |
| 15. | Felix Hernandez | MARINERS | 19.0 | 5/$78 | 15.6 | 2014 |
| 17. | Carlos Lee | ASTROS | 18.5 | 6/$100 | 16.67 | 2012 |
| 18. | Alfonso Soriano | CUBS | 18.0 | 8/$136 | 17.0 | 2014 |
| 18. | Torii Hunter | ANGELS | 18.0 | 5/$90 | 18.0 | 2012 |
| 18. | Tim Lincecum | GIANTS | 18.0 | 2/$40.5 | 20.35 | 2013 |
| 21. | Matt Holliday | CARDINALS | 17.0 | 7/$120 | 17.14 | 2016* |
| 21. | Jake Peavy | WHITE SOX | 17.0 | 3/$52 | 17.33 | 2012* |
| 21. | Ichiro Suzuki | MARINERS | 17.0 | 5/$90 | 18.0 | 2012 |
| 24. | A.J. Burnett | PIRATES | 16.5 | 5/$82.5 | 16.5 | 2013 |
| 25. | Derek Jeter | YANKEES | 16.0 | 3/$51 | 17.0 | 2013* |
| 25. | Jason Bay | METS | 16.0 | 4/$66 | 16.5 | 2013* |
| 25. | Michael Young | RANGERS | 16.0 | 5/$80 | 16.0 | 2013 |
* The following year is a club option, except in Derek Jeter’s case. He has a player option for an additional year.
Photo: joshspringer.com
