Top 6 Richest MLB Pitchers

In the world of baseball, with great talent comes an extraordinary price tag. Pitchers are some of the most elite, finely-tuned athletes in the MLB, and their contracts reflect their skill set. From Justin Verlander to Mariano Rivera, major league pitchers have been some of the hottest commodities on the market with the salaries to show for it.

Who Are the Richest MLB Pitchers of All Time?

1. Justin Verlander
2. Zach Greinke
3. Stephen Strasburg
4. Randy Johnson
5. Félix Hernández
6. David Price

1. Justin Verlander

Starting pitcher Justin Verlander has seen groundbreaking earnings and massive growth in his net worth during his time as a major league pitcher, with $320 million in career earnings and a net worth of about $150 million. He began his pitching career with the Detroit Tigers in 2005 with a healthy salary of a few million dollars, but he soon exponentially increased his worth with flawless pitching skills and unbelievable performances that included two no-hitters (the only pitcher to have done so in Tigers history). He signed an $80 million contract with the Tigers from 2010 to 2014 and another $180 million deal with them from 2014 to 2019. He has pitched for the Astros since 2019, with a two-year $66 million contract from 2019 to 2021 and a second contract for 2022 and 2023 that can earn him up to $50 million.   

2. Zack Greinke

Zack Greinke is an MLB pitcher with a net worth of $120 million. Greinke started out in the league in 2004, playing for the Kansas City Royals and coming in fourth in votes for the Rookie of the Year Award. Over the next few seasons, he improved drastically, and in 2009, he earned the AL Cy Young Award for his pitching. After playing for the Royals, he bounced around to the Brewers, Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Astros, before finally returning to the Royals in 2022. With six All-Star selections, six Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, and 2,882 strikeouts and counting on his record, Greinke more than earned his most recent one-year contract with the Royals, valued at $8.5 million.

3. Stephen Strasburg

Stephen Strasburg is an MLB pitcher with a net worth of $100 million. The pitcher for the Washington Nationals is currently collecting a seven-year $245 million contract that he signed in 2020. Strasburg was a heavily hyped prospect when he was drafted by the Nationals in 2010, as he had led the US National Team to Olympic bronze two years earlier. In his major league debut, he threw 14 strikeouts. Strasburg has continued to perform for Washington throughout his impressive career, notably leading them to a World Series victory over the Astros in 2019. This historic win led the Nationals to ink his current contract, retaining him through the 2026 season.

4. Randy Johnson

Extraordinary left-hander Randy Johnson saw many teams and many lucrative paydays in his 22 seasons as a major league pitcher, with a combined $175 million in contract earnings and a subsequent $95 million net worth. Johnson’s career featured stints with the Expos, the Mariners, the Astros, the Diamondbacks, the Yankees, and the Giants between 1988 and 2009. Perhaps his most memorable contract was an unprecedented $52 million awarded to him by the Diamondbacks in 1998, a deal which would pay off with countless pitches over 100 mph and a stunning 2001 World Series win over the New York Yankees. Even into his forties, Johnson was fine-tuned enough to earn a $44 million contract with the New York Yankees. 

5. Félix Hernández

Former pitcher Félix Hernández has a net worth of $90 million. He played for the Seattle Mariners from 2005 until his retirement in 2018. During that time, Hernández made over $25 million per year, for a total career earnings of $221 million. His rookie contract attracted widespread notice, as he was retained by the Mariners at age 16 and officially signed at age 18, as soon as MLB rules allowed. Of particular note was the $710,000 signing bonus. Although Hernández reported that other clubs had offered more money, he chose the Mariners because his idol and fellow Venezuelan, Freddy García, was pitching for the team at the time. Hernández went on to become a six-time All-Star, leading the American League in ERA in two seasons and earning the Cy Young Award in 2010.

6. David Price

David Price is a retired pitcher with a net worth of $85 million. Price had an impressive 22-year career in the MLB. He pitched for five different teams, notably leading the Boston Red Sox to their historic 2018 World Series Victory. Over the course of his career, he collected $271 million in salary, which contributed to his large net worth. When he signed a seven-year $217-million deal with the Red Sox in 2015, it was the largest contract for a pitcher at the time. His trade to the Dodgers in 2020 was largely made to clear salary space.

Honorable Mentions

Mariano Rivera

Legendary closer Mariano Rivera earned $170 million throughout his 19-season career with the New York Yankees and today has a net worth of approximately $80 million. While not the highest income racked up on this list at first glance, Rivera’s salary is proportionately the most valuable considering his position as a closer who typically only pitched an inning or two rather than a starter who pitched for more than six innings. In the 952 games he played with the Yankees, Rivera earned approximately $132,000 per inning. With his extraordinary cutter and the all-time record for saves, Rivera more than earned his worth as a Yankee closer.

CC Sabathia

With over $260 million in earnings and a current $80 million net worth, CC Sabathia scored unprecedented contract heights in his 19 seasons as an MLB pitcher. Sabathia began his career with Cleveland in 2001 and quickly became the team's breakout star, eventually earning an annual salary of $8 million. However, he would ultimately be dealt to the Brewers. Sabathia’s subsequent deal with the Yankees, which would come to define his career, started him off with a staggering seven-year $161 million contract from the 2009 to the 2015 season. He would go on to lead the Yankees to a World Series win in 2009 and make an additional $65 million through additional contracts with the Yankees before retiring in 2019.

Johan Santana

Johan Santana was a fearsome competitor who earned a whopping $182 million in his 15 years as a major league pitcher, with an overall net worth of $70 million. He began his career with the Minnesota Twins in the early 2000s and won multiple Cy Young awards. In 2008 he signed an extraordinary six-year, $137.5 million contract with the Mets, where he would develop a lethal fastball and pitch a memorable no-hitter. Due to unfortunate recurring injuries, Santana would go to the Orioles for the 2014 season and to the Blue Jays for 2015, earning about $10.5 million in his last two years in the MLB. 

Greg Maddux

Greg Maddux was one of the most iconic Braves pitchers in franchise history, earning nearly $154 million in his 24 seasons of pitching and a net worth of $70 million, impressive sums which could have been even heftier had he not turned down rival teams’ offers in order to stay with the Braves. He began his career with the Cubs in 1986; however, Maddux signed with the Braves in December of 1992 for $28 million over five years. He had extraordinary accuracy, with a 2.13 ERA from 1993 to 1997, making him arguably the best pitcher of his era. He returned to the Cubs in 2004 with a four-year $24 million contract and played for the Padres from 2007 to 2008 for $20 million. He was traded to the Dodgers in 2008 and retired after the season came to a close.

FAQ