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MLB’s Average Salary Tops $5 Million for First Time, AP Study Shows

William Attardi on April 3, 2025

The New York Mets, with Juan Soto’s record $61.9 million pay, led MLB for the third straight opening day with a $322.6 million payroll (down from their record high of $355.4 million in 2023), just ahead of the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at $319.5 million. Those two teams each spent roughly five times as much as the Miami Marlins, who at $64.9 million ended the Athletics’ three-year streak as the lowest spender. Los Angeles’ payroll figure was held down by deferred payments. Shohei Ohtani’s $70 million salary was discounted to a present-day value of $28.2 million because it won’t be paid in full until 2035

Highest salaries per year in MLB for the 2025 season

Juan Soto (NYM)            $61,875,000

Zack Wheeler (Phi)         $42,000,000

Jacob deGrom (Tex)       $40,000,000

Aaron Judge (NYY)        $40,000,000

Anthony Rendon (LAA) $38,571,428

Carlos Correa (Min)       $37,333,333

Mike Trout (LAA)           $37,116,666

Gerrit Cole (NYY)          $36,000,000

Jose Altuve (Hou)            $33,000,000

Corey Seager (Tex)         $32,500,000

Source: MLB MLB’s average salary tops $5 million for first time, AP study shows | AP News

MLB Starts in Japan Tomorrow

William Attardi on March 17, 2025

Yes, do you believe it, the Dodgers and Cubs are kicking off the MLB regular season with a two-game series in Japan, starting Tuesday, March 18.  Of course, the remaining 28 MLB teams will not be participating. A week after the games in Japan, MLB Opening Day is slated for Thursday, March 27, 2025.  Here is something you may not know.  The American League is ahead 64-48 in the World Series that began in 1903. The American League has won the Fall Classic 16 more times than the National League, thanks to a team in the AL who has won the most titles.  They won 27 times.  The New York Yankees.  Whooooooooah!

The Creator of Baby Ruth Actually Sued Babe Ruth –The Baby Ruth candy bar was created by the Curtiss Candy Company in 1920 — the same year that baseball legend Babe Ruth hit a then-record 54 home runs. But the Great Bambino was irked that the company was selling a candy bar with such a similar name to his own without offering him any royalties. Rather than take the Curtiss Candy Company to court, the Sultan of Swat decided to make his own candy bar, and in 1926 he debuted Ruth’s Home Run bar. The Curtiss Candy Company responded by turning the tables and taking Ruth to court. They accused the slugger of trying to steal their trademark and capitalize on the success of their brand. In a 1931 deposition, Curtiss founder Otto Schnering insisted the candy was named after “Baby Ruth” Cleveland — the daughter of President Grover Cleveland.  He also attested that the company came up with the name in 1919 before the baseball player had become a household name and that the name was merely coincidental. While the validity of those claims is disputed to this day, the court nonetheless ruled in favor of the candy company, forcing Ruth to end his foray into the world of candy.