The Major League Baseball (MLB) is one of the most popular and profitable sports leagues in the world. It has been a source of entertainment for millions of baseball fans around the globe. As with any professional sport, the disparity in pay between the highest and lowest earners can be quite large. In 2022, the MLB is projected to have the highest average salary of any professional sports league in the world. So, who gets paid the most in MLB 2022?
MLB Salaries Overview
The MLB has a soft salary cap system, which allows teams to spend above the cap. As a result, MLB salaries have increased significantly over the past few decades, with the average salary in the league rising from $2.6 million in 2001 to $4.4 million in 2022.
The salaries of MLB players are largely determined by their performance and market value. The players with the highest market values tend to earn the most, while those with lower market values tend to earn less. The highest-paid MLB players in 2022 are likely to be stars such as Mike Trout, Gerrit Cole, and Mookie Betts, who are all in the top 10 for average salary in the league.
MLB Salary Distribution
The salary distribution in the MLB is quite stark. The average salary for the top 10% of earners is over $15 million, while the average salary for the bottom 10% of earners is only around $1.2 million. This means that the top earners in the league will be making significantly more than the rest of the players.
In addition, the salaries of the top players in the league are likely to be even higher than the average. In 2022, the top 5 earners in the league are projected to make a combined total of over $200 million, with the highest earner making around $40 million.
MLB Salary Structure
The salary structure of the MLB is complex and varies from team to team. Teams are able to sign players to long-term contracts, which allow them to spread out the salary over multiple years. This allows teams to sign players to lucrative deals without having to pay them all at once.
In addition, teams are also able to offer players signing bonuses and other incentives. These bonuses can be used to entice players to sign with a particular team, and can significantly increase a player’s earnings.
Highest Paid MLB Players 2022
The highest-paid MLB players in 2022 are likely to be some of the most recognizable names in the league. Some of the players who are likely to make the most money in 2022 include:
- Mike Trout: Trout is the highest-paid player in the league and is projected to make around $45 million in 2022.
- Gerrit Cole: Cole signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees in 2019 and is projected to make around $37 million in 2022.
- Mookie Betts: Betts signed a 12-year, $365 million contract with the Dodgers in 2020 and is projected to make around $36 million in 2022.
- Nolan Arenado: Arenado signed an eight-year, $260 million contract with the Rockies in 2019 and is projected to make around $32 million in 2022.
- Max Scherzer: Scherzer signed a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Nationals in 2015 and is projected to make around $31 million in 2022.
- Justin Verlander: Verlander signed a seven-year, $180 million contract with the Astros in 2013 and is projected to make around $31 million in 2022.
- Zack Greinke: Greinke signed a six-year, $206.5 million contract with the Astros in 2019 and is projected to make around $31 million in 2022.
- Jacob deGrom: deGrom signed a five-year, $137.5 million contract with the Mets in 2019 and is projected to make around $30 million in 2022.
- Stephen Strasburg: Strasburg signed a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Nationals in 2019 and is projected to make around $30 million in 2022.
- Manny Machado: Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million contract with the Padres in 2019 and is projected to make around $30 million in 2022.
MLB Player Incentives
In addition to their base salaries, many MLB players are also eligible for additional bonuses and incentives. These can include performance bonuses, which are awarded for reaching certain statistical milestones, and team incentives, which are awarded for helping the team reach certain goals.
In addition, players are also eligible for a variety of other incentives, such as signing bonuses, playoff bonuses, and award bonuses. These bonuses can significantly increase a player’s earnings, and can often make a big difference in how much they earn over the course of a season or career.
MLB Salary Cap
The MLB has a soft salary cap system, which allows teams to exceed the salary cap. This means that teams are able to spend more on certain players if they choose to do so.
In 2022, the MLB salary cap is expected to be around $210 million. This means that teams will have a significant amount of money to spend on players, and the highest earners in the league are likely to be those who are able to command the most money on the open market.
Conclusion
The MLB is one of the most popular and profitable sports leagues in the world, and the salaries of its players reflect this. In 2022, the top earners in the league are likely to be stars such as Mike Trout, Gerrit Cole, and Mookie Betts, who are all in the top 10 for average salary in the league. These players are likely to make significantly more than the rest of the players in the league, and their salaries are likely to be even higher than the average. In addition, teams are also able to offer players signing bonuses and other incentives, which can significantly increase a player’s earnings.
The MLB salary cap is expected to be around $210 million in 2022, which means that teams will have a significant amount of money to spend on players. So, who gets paid the most in MLB 2022? The answer is likely to be the same players who have been the highest earners in the league for years: the stars.