The realm of baseball is witnessing a historic wave of profit for the cream of the crop in pitching talent. As we stand on the brink of the 2025 baseball season, a remarkable number of 25 starting pitchers are set to receive remunerations of $20 million per annum or more. Astonishingly, the count increases to 67 when we consider those earning a minimum of $10 million in average yearly salary. The limelight, as one would expect, is on the financial marvel that effortlessly outshines others – the phenomenal Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani, the dazzling dual-gifted superstar of the Los Angeles Dodgers, not only leads the payroll table for pitchers, but has also achieved the coveted summit of the highest earnings in Major League Baseball. Ohtani’s exceptional skills have manifested differently this year as his pitching delivery evolved from stretch to more of a wind-up. The immense faith shown in him led to a synonymous escalation in his financial worth.
Last winter, Ohtani penned down a breathtaking contract for 10 years, worth a whopping $700 million. This contract translates into an unprecedented average yearly income of $70 million, making him the richest pitcher the game has ever seen. Despite his unavailability to pitch in 2025 due to elbow surgery recovery, his adeptness with the bat as a designated hitter ensures his position as the primary monetary force in baseball.
Even though Ohtani’s towering $70 million salary seems invincible, the following group of best-paid pitchers in MLB sure pulls off incomes that can turn heads. Falling second on the highest-earning pitchers’ tally is Philadelphia Phillies’ star, Zack Wheeler. His recent approval of a $126 million extension for three years stipulates an annual income of $42 million.
Following closely behind Wheeler is the resilient ace of the Texas Rangers, Jacob deGrom. Despite battling injuries, deGrom’s performance merits a prominent place on the list of top-earning arms, securing him an impressive $37 million per annum. Another superstar from the Los Angeles Dodgers, with an illustrious salary, is Blake Snell at the fourth position.
Snell, cashing in on his second Cy Young Award, managed to secure a solid pay packet of $36.4 million yearly. Last but not least among the top five earners is Gerrit Cole, the indispensable anchor of the New York Yankees’ rotation. Despite the competition, Cole’s prestige ensures a constant flow of $36 million per annum.
When it comes to leaders in pitcher compensations, the Dodgers stand out, dominating the tally with four out of the top 10 highest-earning pitchers. Yet, the Yankees’ investment in top-tier arms isn’t far behind, offering hefty paychecks to their three high-value pitchers. With the signing of Wheeler’s extension, he becomes the top-earning pitcher not sporting a Dodgers or Yankees jersey.
The last two offseasons were particularly busy, with six out of these ten high-earning pitchers tying down lucrative deals. This trend reflects the aggressive approach of teams in securing the best of the starting pitchers. With leading starters demanding an astounding $35-$40 million per season, it’s clear that the market for elite pitching talent is experiencing a sharp ascent.
Unyielding contenders like the Dodgers and Yankees have proven their readiness to shell out huge sums to form dominant rotations. Concurrently, other teams such as the Phillies, Rangers, and Diamondbacks have also shown wisdom in their targeted investments. They are focusing on bringing in premium pitchers to bolster their line-ups, even though it comes with a significant price tag.
As we look forward to the future of this incredible sport, the message for franchises looking to secure championship titles is a clear and loud echo: top-notch starting pitching demands a high premium. In the 2025 season, this cost of securing elite talent is skyrocketing, and it seems to keep setting new records. The investment made in such players can make or break a team’s season, making each decision all the more critical.