Yearly League Leaders & Records for Salary

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Table
Year National League Salary American League Salary
2024Patrick Corbin (WSN)35,416,667 Max Scherzer (TEX)43,333,334
2023Nolan Arenado (STL) • Stephen Strasburg (WSN)35,000,000 Max Scherzer (TEX) • Justin Verlander (HOU)43,333,333
2022Max Scherzer (NYM)43,333,333 Mike Trout (LAA)37,116,666
2021Jacob deGrom (NYM)35,500,000 Mike Trout (LAA)37,116,667
2020Max Scherzer (WSN)35,920,616 Mike Trout (LAA)37,666,666
2019Stephen Strasburg (WSN)38,333,333 David Price (BOS)31,000,000
2018Clayton Kershaw (LAD)35,571,429 Mike Trout (LAA)34,083,000
2017Clayton Kershaw (LAD)35,571,429 David Price (BOS)30,000,000
2016Clayton Kershaw (LAD)34,571,429 David Price (BOS)30,000,000
2015Clayton Kershaw (LAD)32,571,429 Justin Verlander (DET)28,000,000
2014Zack Greinke (LAD)26,000,000 Robinson Canó (SEA) • Prince Fielder (TEX)24,000,000
2013Johan Santana (NYM)25,500,000 Alex Rodriguez (NYY)28,000,000
2012Johan Santana (NYM)24,000,000 Alex Rodriguez (NYY)29,000,000
2011Johan Santana (NYM)21,644,707 Alex Rodriguez (NYY)32,000,000
2010Johan Santana (NYM)20,144,707 Alex Rodriguez (NYY)33,000,000
2009Manny Ramirez (LAD)23,854,494 Alex Rodriguez (NYY)33,000,000
2008Carlos Beltrán (NYM)18,622,809 Alex Rodriguez (NYY)28,000,000
2007Todd Helton+ (COL)16,600,000 Jason Giambi (NYY)23,428,571
2006Jeff Bagwell+ (HOU)19,369,019 Alex Rodriguez (NYY)21,680,727
2005Barry Bonds (SFG)22,000,000 Alex Rodriguez (NYY)26,000,000
2004Barry Bonds (SFG)18,000,000 Manny Ramirez (BOS)22,500,000
2003Mo Vaughn (NYM)17,166,667 Alex Rodriguez (TEX)22,000,000
2002Kevin Brown (LAD)15,714,286 Alex Rodriguez (TEX)22,000,000
2001Kevin Brown (LAD)15,714,286 Alex Rodriguez (TEX)22,000,000
2000Kevin Brown (LAD)15,714,286 Albert Belle (BAL)12,868,670
1999Kevin Brown (LAD)10,714,286 Albert Belle (BAL)11,949,794
1998Gary Sheffield (FLA)14,936,667 Albert Belle (CHW)10,000,000
1997Barry Bonds (SFG)8,666,667 Albert Belle (CHW)10,000,000
1996Barry Bonds (SFG)8,416,667 Cecil Fielder (DET)9,237,500
1995Barry Bonds (SFG)8,166,666 Cecil Fielder (DET)9,237,500
1994Bobby Bonilla (NYM)6,300,000 Joe Carter (TOR)5,550,000
1993Bobby Bonilla (NYM)6,200,000 Joe Carter (TOR)5,550,000
1992Bobby Bonilla (NYM)6,100,000 Danny Tartabull (NYY)5,300,000
1991Darryl Strawberry (LAD)3,800,000 Joe Carter (TOR)3,791,667
1990Eddie Murray+ (LAD)2,513,703 Robin Yount+ (MIL)3,200,000
1989Orel Hershiser (LAD)2,766,667 Frank Viola (MIN)2,766,666
1988Ozzie Smith+ (STL)2,340,000 George Brett+ (KCR)2,305,000
1987Mike Schmidt+ (PHI)2,127,333 Jim Rice+ (BOS)2,110,000
1986George Foster (NYM)2,800,000 Jim Rice+ (BOS)1,984,423
1985Mike Schmidt+ (PHI)2,130,300 Dave Winfield+ (NYY)1,795,704