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