Baseball is hitting new money records this year, and it’s got folks talking. Two players are making over $100 million each, something no NFL star has done yet. Some say it shows the power of hard work, but others worry about what it means for the game.
Juan Soto, the New York Mets’ new star, is set to earn $126.9 million this season. His massive $765 million deal includes a $75 million signing bonus. That’s a lot of cash upfront, and it’s got fans debating whether such giant contracts hurt teams’ ability to build balanced rosters.
Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ two-way superstar, took a different path. He’ll make just $2 million in salary this year but rakes in $100 million from sponsorships. Critics say deferring 97% of his $700 million contract until the 2030s is a risky gamble. What happens if he gets injured or his skills fade?
The top 10 earners in baseball will pull in $576 million combined this year. That’s up 25% from 2024. While fans love seeing stars get paid, families struggling with rising ticket prices might not cheer as loudly. Teams argue these deals bring championships, but not every city has a billionaire owner willing to spend big.
Only eight athletes in history have crossed the $100 million mark in a single year. Ohtani joins LeBron James and soccer stars like Messi in that club. His off-field earnings come from ads and partnerships, proving personality matters as much as performance.
Blake Snell, Aaron Judge, and Zack Wheeler round out the top five. Snell’s $65 million deal with the Dodgers includes deferred money, a trick teams use to stay under budget caps. Old-school fans grumble that backloading contracts feels like kicking the can down the road.
Baseball’s spending spree shows no signs of slowing. While players deserve rewards for talent, some wonder if the sport is losing touch with everyday Americans. When a single athlete earns more than some small towns’ budgets, it’s worth asking: Is this good for the game, or just good for agents?
Love it or hate it, baseball’s money machine keeps rolling. Soto and Ohtani are rewriting the rules, but only time will tell if these deals pay off—for the players, the teams, or the fans.
