Major League baseball players are near the top of the food chain when it comes to how much money they make compared to other professional athletes. A lot of that has to do with the the number of games played each season in major league baseball, which is much higher than the number of games played in the NBA or NFL.
These are the ten highest paid players in major league baseball for the 2013 season. There are actually 11 players listed because of a tie. The New York Yankees have three players on this list, while the Detroit Tigers have two, and the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Dodgers each have one.
Ten highest paid players in major league baseball in 2013
1. Alex Rodriguez (Yankees) - $29 million
Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees is the highest paid player in major league baseball in 2013, with a salary of $29 million. A-Rod is actually making less than the $32 million he made in 2012, and his salary, which is guaranteed through 2017, will continue to drop until it reaches $20 million for both the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
A-Rod is out at least until the all-star break after undergoing hip surgery in January. He can earn additional bonuses on his salary if he reaches milestone home runs past 660.
2. Johan Santana (Mets) - $25.5 million
Johan Santana of the New York Mets is the second highest paid player in baseball with a salary of $25.5 million in 2013. Santana has pitched well for the Mets at times, but he has been a bust overall.
He did pitch the Mets first no-hitter, but even that was a joke, as the umpires blew a clear call when a Carlos Beltran hit ball hit the chalk line in left field for an obvious double. Johan Santana can earn another $25 million in 2014, or the Mets can buy him out of the contract for $5.5 million.
3. Cliff Lee (Phillies) - $25 million
Cliff Lee is the highest paid player on the Philadelphia Phillies, and third highest player in baseball in 2013 with a salary of $25 million. Lee pitched well for the Phillies in 2012, but had a losing record (6-9). Look for him to reverse that in a big way in 2013.
4. Vernon Wells (Angels) - $24.643 million
Vernon Wells of the Los Angeles Angels is the fourth highest paid player in major league baseball this season. Wells is making $24.643 million in salary, thanks to one of the worst contracts ever given out in baseball history.
In 2012, Vernon Wells hit .222 with a OBP of .279. That's almost as bad as pitchers hit in the National League.
5. Mark Teixeira (Yankees) - $23.125
Mark Teixeira of the New York Yankees is making $23.125 million in salary in 2013. Over his first four seasons with the Yankees, while being paid a fortune, Teixeira has played well.
Mark Teixeira has averaged 34 home runs, 106 RBIs, and 93 runs scored per season for the Yankees. As he ages, though, his production is likely to slow down, and the Yankees owe him $22.5 million a year through 2016.
T-6. C.C. Sabathia (Yankees) - $23 million
Another of the Yankees big money players, pitcher C.C. Sabathia, is making the sixth most money in baseball in 2013 at $23 million. C.C. has been worth every penny the Yankees have paid him. He's 74-29 with a 3.22 ERA for the Yankees.
T-6. Joe Mauer (Twins) - $23 million
Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer is making $23 million in 2013. After winning three batting titles for the Twins in 2006, 2008, and 2009, Joe Mauer was rewarded with a huge long-term contract. So far, Mauer has not earned his huge salary. The Twins owe him $23 million a year through the 2018 season.
T-6. Prince Fielder (Tigers) - $23 million
Prince Fielder delivered for the Detroit Tigers in 2012, hitting 30 home runs and driving in 108 runs, in the first year of his big money contract. The Tigers owe Prince Fielder $24 million a year through the 2020 season.
9. Tim Lincecum (Giants) - $22.250 million
Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants is making $22.250 million in 2013. Lincecum had a terrible 2012, pitching to a 5.18 ERA, and leading the league in losses with 15. The Freak can be a free agent after this season, so look for him to rebound and have a big year as he pitches for a new contract.
T-10. Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) - $21 million
I would say that hitting for the Triple Crown, something not done in baseball since 1967, showed that Miguel Cabrera earned his money in 2012. After making $21 million this season, Cabrera will make $22 million in both 2014 and 2015, and then he can become a free agent.
Miguel Cabrera is 30 years old this season. He already has 1,802 hits and 1,123 RBI's in his career. If he can stay healthy and on the field, he is going to get over 3,000 hits and over 2,000 RBIs in his career.
T-10. Adrian Gonzalez (Dodgers) - $21 million
Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers will make the same money as Miguel Cabrera in 2013 ($21 million). Gonzalez is one year older than Cabrera, and he has 501 less hits and 373 less RBIs than Cabrera does.
I'm not saying that to knock Adrian Gonzalez, he his a great hitter, but to show how far along and how much Miguel Cabrera can accomplish in his career statistically.
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