10 highest paid MLB players in 2026 according to Forbes
· Yahoo Sports
Baseball has always been a big-money sport, but the 2026 Forbes list makes that clearer than ever. Between blockbuster contracts, global endorsement deals, and business ventures that extend well beyond the diamond, the top earners in MLB are pulling in numbers that would make even Wall Street take notice.
The gap between the top and the rest tells its own story. Shohei Ohtani sits in a different stratosphere entirely, earning more than double the second-highest earner on this list. That kind of financial dominance is rare in any sport, let alone one with as much competitive depth as baseball.
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What makes this list interesting is that salary alone doesn’t tell the full picture. Off-field income, from endorsements to personal brand deals, plays a huge role in where these players land. Some of the biggest names in the game owe a significant chunk of their earnings to what they do away from the ballpark.
Let’s count down from 10 to 1, with the biggest earner saved for last.
#10 Gerrit Cole — New York Yankees
Cole will remain a Yankee for at least four more years | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images$37.5M total earnings
Cole is one of the most dependable starters in the American League, and his contract reflects that. The Yankees pay well for elite arms, and Cole has earned every dollar of his spot on this list.
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#9 Jacob deGrom — Texas Rangers
Sep 24, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) throws the ball during the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images$38.3M total earnings
DeGrom’s career has been defined by brilliance interrupted by injury, but when healthy, there are few better pitchers in the game. Texas made a big bet on him, and the earnings number shows that bet hasn’t gone cheap.
#8 Mike Trout — Los Angeles Angels
Sep 28, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Mike Trout (27) runs after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images$39M total earnings
Trout has been the face of baseball for over a decade, and despite the Angels’ long playoff drought, his earning power has never dipped. His salary remains one of the largest in the sport, and his name still carries real weight in endorsements.
#7 Zack Wheeler — Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images$42.2M total earnings
Wheeler has quietly become one of the best pitchers in the National League, and the Phillies have been rewarded for backing him. His earnings reflect consistent, high-level performance in big moments.
#6 Bo Bichette — New York Mets
New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette (19) works during spring training at Clover Park. Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images$42.4M total earnings
Bichette’s move to the Mets came with a serious payday, and his spot on this list confirms his standing as one of the more marketable young stars in the league. The New York platform only adds to his off-field earning potential.
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#5 Aaron Judge — New York Yankees
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) smiles as he high-fives in the dugout after he scored a run during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images$46.1M total earnings
Judge is the face of the Yankees and one of the most recognizable athletes in American sports. His massive contract, combined with a strong endorsement portfolio, puts him firmly in the top five. In New York, the biggest stars get paid like it.
#4 Juan Soto — New York Mets
New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) returns to the dugout against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images$51.9M total earnings
Soto signed one of the richest contracts in baseball history when he joined the Mets, and the numbers are starting to show up on lists like this. At just 27, he has years left to climb even higher.
#3 Kyle Tucker — Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker against the San Diego Padres during a spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images$56M total earnings
Tucker’s arrival in Los Angeles added another elite bat to an already loaded roster, and the Dodgers paid accordingly. His earnings put him level with the upper tier of baseball’s best, and the Dodger brand only strengthens his off-field value.
#2 Cody Bellinger — New York Yankees
Oct 8, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) slides to make a catch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game four of the ALDS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images$56.5M total earnings
Bellinger’s resurgence has been one of the better stories in baseball over the past two years, and a move to the Yankees put his earnings into a different bracket entirely. Just half a million separates him from third, but the gap to first is enormous.
#1 Shohei Ohtani — Los Angeles Dodgers
Mar 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after throwing an inside pitch to Los Angeles Angels center fielder Jo Adell (7) in the fourth at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images$127M total earnings
There is no one else close. Ohtani’s $127M total comes from his Dodgers salary, combined with endorsements and business ventures spanning continents. He is the most marketable player in baseball by a significant distance, and the only two-way superstar the sport has seen in generations. This isn’t just the top of a list. It’s a category of one.
The price of greatness
New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) smiles as he high-fives in the dugout after he scored a run during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn ImagesThe money in modern baseball is staggering, but these ten players have earned their place at the top. From veteran stalwarts to the sport’s biggest global superstar, the 2026 Forbes list is a snapshot of who holds the most value in the game right now.
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