BASEBALL

Six highest paid players in Major League Baseball

6 years ago - Sportingbase

Do we know when Major League Baseball is coming back? Sadly, the answer is no. Will players have to give up a portion of their salary this year because of coronavirus? The answer to that question is probably yes due to the fact that MLB teams will see a significant drop in revenues because of a major loss in ticket sales this season. Heading into 2020, here were the top six highest-paid players in Major League Baseball.

4) Zack Greinke–Houston Astros–The right-handed starting pitcher from Orlando, Florida is set to make $35 million in 2020. Last season, Greinke shared his time with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Astros and had a combined record of 18 wins, five losses, 187 strikeouts and an earned run average of 2.93. The six-time All-Star won the 2009 American League Cy Young Award with the Kansas City Royals. Despite being to the postseason six times, Greinke has not yet won a World Series.

4) Stephen Strasburg–Washington Nationals–The right-handed starting pitcher from San Diego, California is also set to make $35 million in 2020. It was a magical conclusion for Strasburg in 2019, as he was the World Series most valuable player. Strasburg helped guide the Nationals to their first ever World Series title. In the 2019 regular season, Strasburg had a National League-leading 18 wins, with a career-high 251 strikeouts and an earned run average of 3.32.

4) Nolan Arenado–Colorado Rockies–At $35 million in 2020, Arenado is the highest-paid infielder in Major League Baseball. A third baseman from Newport Beach, California, Arenado batted .315 with 41 home runs and 118 runs batted in during the 2019 season. Known for his offensive power, Arenado is also great defensively. He has won the Gold Glove Award at third base in the National League in each of the last seven seasons.

3) Max Scherzer–Washington Nationals–Known as one of the most consistent starting pitchers in Major League Baseball over the last seven seasons, the native of St. Louis, was set to make $35,920,616 in 2020. Last season, Scherzer had a perfect record of three wins and zero losses in the playoffs as he won his first World Series of his career. He had a regular season record of 11 wins, seven losses, 243 strikeouts and an earned run average of 2.92. Just how powerful has Scherzer been on the mound? He has had a minimum of 231 strikeouts in each of the last eight seasons.

2) Gerrit Cole–New York Yankees– Set to make $36 million in 2020, the righthander, signed with the Bronx Bombers from the Astros in the offseason. In 2019, the native of Newport Beach, California, had a record of 20 wins and five losses with Houston. Cole also led Major League Baseball with 326 strikeouts and led the American League with a 2.50 earned run average.

1) Mike Trout–Los Angeles Angels–Recognized as the most complete player in Major League Baseball, the veteran center fielder from Vineland, New Jersey is set to make $37, 666, 666 in 2020. Last season, Trout won his third American League Most Valuable Player Award as he led Major League Baseball with a .438 on base percentage and the American League with a .645 slugging percentage. Trout also batted .291 with 45 home runs and 104 runs batted in.