Highest Paid Baseball Players 2015
Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and is, in fact, one such game that is hugely played all over the world. The most important championship of baseball is the Major League Baseball, organized in the US, which has so far given this sport some of its legendary players of all time. Baseball players competing in the MLB are among the highest paid athletes in the industry, as they receive lucrative salary from the teams they are a part of, as well as the personal earnings from the sponsorship deals. The legends of baseball like Alex Rodrigues and Carlos Beltran are at par with the highest paid athletes of different genres. The total career earnings of Alex are worth $466,963,699, placing him at the same level as the wealthiest players associated with the sports industry. The newbies too are likely to become pretty wealthy soon enough, because of the contract fee they get, or will get in the future, from the teams. So let us have a look at the Top 10 Highest Paid Baseball Players 2015.
Top 10 Highest Paid Baseball Players 2015
1. Clayton Kershaw
American professional baseball player Clayton Kershaw presently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers as a starting pitcher in the Major League Baseball. He made his debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB on May 25, 2008. He was named the All-Star four times from 2011 to 2014, achieved the NL CY Young Award three times and also won the NL MVP in 2014. Clayton Kershaw is currently in a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 7 years and will be a free agent in 2021. His recent total contract value is $215,000,000 out of which $215,000,000 is the guaranteed income. In his contract till 2021, he will earn a total of $30,714,286 average yearly salary. Clayton Kershaw is cumulatively earning a total salary worth of $32,571,428 in 2015 out of which $30,000,000 is this year’s base salary.
2. Justin Verlander
American professional baseball player Justin Verlander presently plays for the Detroit Tigers as a starting pitcher in the Major League Baseball. He made his debut for the Detroit Tigers in MLB on July 4, 2005. He was named the All-Star six times from 2007 to 2013 and achieved the AL CY Young Award in 2011 and also won the AL MVP in 2011. Justin Verlander currently in a contract with the Detroit Tigers for 7 years and will be a free agent in 2021. His recent total contract value is $180,000,000 out of which $180,000,000 is the assured income. In his contract till 2021, he will earn a total of $25,714,286 average yearly salary. Justin Verlander is cumulatively earning a total salary worth of $28,000,000 in 2015 out of which $28,000,000 is this year’s base salary.
3. Josh Hamilton
American professional baseball player Josh Hamilton presently plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as an outfielder in the Major League Baseball. He made his debut for the Cincinnati Reds in MLB on April 2, 2007. He was named the AL Batting Champion in 2010 and achieved the ALCS MVP in 2010 and also won the AL MVP in 2010. Josh Hamilton currently in a contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for 5 years and will be a free agent in 2019. His recent total contract value is $125,000,000 out of which $125,000,000 is the guaranteed income. In his contract till 2019, he will earn a total of $25,000,000 average yearly salary. Josh Hamilton is cumulatively earning a total salary worth of $25,400,000 in 2015 out of which $23,000,000 is this year’s base salary.
4. Cliff Lee
American professional baseball player Cliff Lee presently plays for the Philadelphia Phillies as a starting pitcher in the Major League Baseball. He made his debut for the Cleveland Indians in MLB on September 15, 2002. He was named the All-Star four times from 2008 to 2013 and achieved the AL CY Young Award in 2008 and also won the AL Comeback Player of the Year in 2008. Cliff Lee currently in a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies for 5 years and will be a free agent in 2017. His recent total contract value is $120,000,000 out of which $120,000,000 is the guaranteed income. In his contract till 2017, he will earn a total of $24,000,000 average yearly salary. Cliff Lee is cumulatively earning a total salary worth of $25,000,000 in 2015 out of which $25,000,000 is this year’s base salary.
5. Ryan Howard
American professional baseball player Ryan Howard presently plays for the Philadelphia Phillies as a first baseman in the Major League Baseball. He made his debut for the Philadelphia Phillies in MLB on September 2, 2004. He was named the All-Star five times from 2006 to 2010 and achieved the World Series champion in 2008 and also won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2005. Ryan Howard currently in a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies for 5 years and will be a free agent in 2018. His recent total contract value is $125,000,000 out of which $125,000,000 is the assured income. In his contract till 2018, he will earn a total of $25,000,000 average yearly salary. Ryan Howard is cumulatively earning a total salary worth of $25,000,000 in 2015 out of which $25,000,000 is this year’s base salary.
6. Zack Greinke
American professional baseball player Zack Greinke presently plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers as a starting pitcher in the Major League Baseball. He made his debut for the Kansas City Royals in MLB on May 22, 2004. He was named the All-Star two times from 2009 to 2014 and achieved the AL CY Young Award in 2009 and also won the MLB ERA leader in 2009. Zack Greinke currently in a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 6 years and will be a free agent in 2019. His recent total contract value is $147,000,000 out of which $147,000,000 is the assured income. In his contract till 2019, he will earn a total of $24,500,000 average yearly salary. Zack Greinke is cumulatively earning a total salary worth of $25,000,000 in 2015 out of which $23,000,000 is this year’s base salary.
7. Felix Hernandez
Venezuelan professional baseball player Felix Hernandez presently plays for the Seattle Mariners as a starting pitcher in the Major League Baseball. He made his debut for the Seattle Mariners in MLB on August 4, 2005. He was named the All-Star five times from 2009 to 2014 and achieved the AL Win co-leader in 2009 and also won the AL ERA leader in 2014. Felix Hernandez currently in a contract with the Seattle Mariners for 7 years and will be a free agent in 2020. His recent total contract value is $175,000,000 out of which $175,000,000 is the guaranteed income. In his contract till 2020, he will earn a total of $25,000,000 average yearly salary. Felix Hernandez is cumulatively earning a total salary worth of $24,857,142 in 2015 out of which $24,000,000 is this year’s base salary.
8. Albert Pujols
Dominican-American professional baseball player Albert Pujols presently plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as a first baseman in the Major League Baseball. He made his debut for the St. Louis Cardinals in MLB on April 2, 2001. He was named the World Series champion two times from 2006 to 2011 and achieved the MLB All-Star nine times till now and also won the NL MVP Award three times. Albert Pujols currently in a contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for 10 years and will be a free agent in 2022. His recent total contract value is $240,000,000 out of which $240,000,000 is the guaranteed income. In his contract till 2022, he will earn a total of $24,000,000 average yearly salary. Albert Pujols is cumulatively earning a total salary worth of $24,000,000 in 2015 out of which $24,000,000 is this year’s base salary.
9. Prince Fielder
American professional baseball player Prince Fielder presently plays for the Texas Rangers as a first baseman in the Major League Baseball. He made his debut for the Milwaukee Brewers in MLB on June 13, 2005. He was named the NL home run leader in 2007 and achieved the MLB All-Star five times till now and also won the Silver Slugger Award three times from 2007 to 2012. Prince Fielder currently in a contract with the Texas Rangers for 9 years and will be a free agent in 2021. His recent total contract value is $214,000,000 out of which $214,000,000 is the guaranteed income. In his contract till 2021, he will earn a total of $23,777,778 average yearly salary. Prince Fielder is cumulatively earning a total salary worth of $24,000,000 in 2015 out of which $24,000,000 is this year’s base salary.
10. Robinson Cano
Dominican-American professional baseball player Robinson Cano presently plays for the Seattle Mariners as a second baseman in the Major League Baseball. He made his debut for the New York Yankees in MLB on May 3, 2005. He was named the World Series champion in 2009 and achieved the MLB All-Star six times till now and also won the Home Run Derby Champion in 2011. Robinson Cano currently in a contract with the Seattle Mariners for 10 years and will be a free agent in 2024. His recent total contract value is $240,000,000 out of which $240,000,000 is the guaranteed income. In his contract till 2024, he will earn a total of $24,000,000 average yearly salary. Robinson Cano is cumulatively earning a total salary worth of $24,000,000 in 2015 out of which $24,000,000 is this year’s base salary.
There are many other baseball players who participate in the MLB and deserve a mention in the list of highest paid baseball players of 2015, such as Cole Hamels or Mark Teixeira. While Cole Hamels, as a starting pitcher, signed a 6 year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies that earned him $144 million, Mark Teixeira signed an 8 year contract with New York Yankees, thus earning $180 million.