The Highest Paid Player on Every NFL, MLB and NBA Team

Pro athletes are rich — but some are a whole lot richer than others. Obviously, the top-paid athlete on any given team is bringing home a whole lot more than the rookies. However, it might come as a surprise that the top-paid player on one team might earn three times or more as much as the top-paid player on a team in the same league.

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Take Major League Baseball as an example. No one would deny Mike Trout the top contract in baseball, as the Los Angeles Angels center fielder is among the best in the game and a perennial MVP candidate. However, his salary of more than $37 million is about four times that of fellow center fielder Jose Ramirez, the top-paid player of the Cleveland Indians. Of course, no one would confuse Trout with Ramirez, and Los Angeles is one of the largest sports markets in the world and Cleveland is not. Still, the disparity in salaries for these two players is enormous.

Learn More: 27 Richest No. 1 NFL Draft Picks

GOBankingRates searched for the highest-paid player on every MLB, NBA, and NFL team using salary data from Spotrac. Base salary data was also collected for reference. Teams were then divided by league and listed in alphabetical order.

Last updated: April 16, 2021

NBA

The NBA season started on Dec. 22 and is scheduled to end on May 16. Thanks to COVID, they’ll play just 72 games, 10 less than in a normal season. The salary cap is $109.14.

Check Out: How Rich are Michael Jordan, Alex Rodriguez And 13 More Incredibly Wealthy Retired Athletes?

Atlanta Hawks

Highest-paid player: Danilo Gallinari
Age: 32
Position: Power forward
Base salary: $19,500,000
Cap figure: $19,500,000
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 16.93

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Boston Celtics

Highest-paid player: Kemba Walker
Age: 30
Position: Point guard
Base salary: $34,379,100
Cap figure: $34,379,100
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 26.1

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Brooklyn Nets

Highest-paid player: James Harden
Age: 31
Position: Shooting guard
Base salary: $41,254,920
Cap figure: $41,254,920
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 24.85

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Charlotte Hornets

Highest-paid player: Gordon Hayward
Age: 30
Position: Small forward
Base salary: $28,500,000
Cap figure: $28,500,000
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 26.56

Chicago Bulls

Highest-paid player: Nikola Vucevic
Age: 29
Position: Center
Base salary: $26,000,000
Cap figure: $26,000,000
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 20.56

Cleveland Cavaliers

Highest-paid player: Kevin Love
Age: 32
Position: Power forward
Base salary: $31,258,256
Cap figure: $31,258,256
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 24.94

Dallas Mavericks

Highest-paid player: Kristaps Porzingis
Age: 25
Position: Power forward
Base salary: $29,467,800
Cap figure: $29,467,800
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 23.45

Denver Nuggets

Highest-paid player: Nikola Jokic
Age: 25
Position: Center
Base salary: $28,542,009
Cap figure: $29,542,010
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 23.03

Detroit Pistons

Highest-paid player: Jerami Grant
Age: 26
Position: Power forward
Base salary: $19,050,000
Cap figure: $19,050,000
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 16.6

Golden State Warriors

Highest-paid player: Stephen Curry
Age: 32
Position: Point guard
Base salary: $43,006,362
Cap figure: $43,006,362
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 25.49

Houston Rockets

Highest-paid player: John Wall
Age: 30
Position: Point guard
Base salary: $41,254,920
Cap figure: $41,254,920
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 32.32

Indiana Pacers

Highest-paid player: Malcolm Brogdon
Age: 27
Position: Point guard
Base salary: $20,700,000
Cap figure: $20,700,000
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 16.17

Los Angeles Clippers

Highest-paid player: Paul George
Age: 30
Position: Shooting guard
Base salary: $35,450,412
Cap figure: $35,450,412
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 25.96

Los Angeles Lakers

Highest-paid player: LeBron James
Age: 35
Position: Small forward
Base salary: $39,219,565
Cap figure: $39,219,565
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 28.74

Memphis Grizzlies

Highest-paid player: Jonas Valanciunas
Age: 28
Position: Center
Base salary: $15,000,000
Cap figure: $15,000,000
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 11.42

Miami Heat

Highest-paid player: Jimmy Butler
Age: 31
Position: Small forward
Base salary: $34,379,100
Cap figure: $34,379,100
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 26.07

Milwaukee Bucks

Highest-paid player: Khris Middleton
Age: 29
Position: Small forward
Base salary: $33,051,724
Cap figure: $33,051,724
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 25.16

Minnesota Timberwolves

Highest-paid player: Karl-Anthony Towns
Age: 24
Position: Center
Base salary: $29,467,800
Cap figure: $29,467,800
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 22.33

New Orleans Pelicans

Highest-paid player: Steven Adams
Age: 27
Position: Center
Base salary: $27,528,088
Cap figure: $27,528,088
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 21.14

New York Knicks

Highest-paid player: Julius Randle
Age: 25
Position: Power forward
Base salary: $18,900,000
Cap figure: $18,900,000
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 19.77

Oklahoma City Thunder

Highest-paid player: Al Horford
Age: 34
Position: Power forward
Base salary: $27,500,000
Cap figure: $27,500,000
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 27.21

Orlando Magic

Highest-paid player: Otto Porter Jr.
Age: 27
Position: Small forward
Base salary: $28,489,238
Cap figure: $28,489,238
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 24.95

Philadelphia 76ers

Highest-paid player: Tobias Harris
Age: 28
Position: Small forward
Base salary: $34,358,850
Cap figure: $34,358,850
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 23.63

Phoenix Suns

Highest-paid player: Chris Paul
Age: 35
Position: Point guard
Base salary: $41,358,814
Cap figure: $41,358,814
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 32.54

Portland Trail Blazers

Highest-paid player: Damian Lillard
Age: 30
Position: Point guard
Base salary: $31,626,953
Cap figure: $31,626,953
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 24.35

Sacramento Kings

Highest-paid player: Buddy Hield
Age: 27
Position: Shooting guard
Base salary: $24,201,834
Cap figure: $24,201,834
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 20.07

San Antonio Spurs

Highest-paid player: DeMar DeRozan
Age: 31
Position: Shooting guard
Base salary: $27,739,975
Cap figure: $27,739,975
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 21.97

Toronto Raptors

Highest-paid player: Pascal Siakam
Age: 26
Position: Power forward
Base salary: $30,559,200
Cap figure: $30,559,200
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 24.03

Utah Jazz

Highest-paid player: Mike Conley
Age: 32
Position: Point guard
Base salary: $34,502,132
Cap figure: $34,502,132
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 25.38

Washington Wizards

Highest-paid player: Russell Westbrook
Age: 31
Position: Point guard
Base salary: $41,358,814
Cap figure: $41,358,814
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 31.93

League Average

Age: 29
Base salary: $30,586,862
Cap figure: $30,586,862
% of total cap space spent on highest-paid player: 23.81

NFL

NFL boss Roger Goodell has promised that stadiums will be filled with fans at full capacity when football starts again this fall. The big news coming out of the league, however, is that the season will be expanding this year from 16 games to 17.

Arizona Cardinals

Highest-paid player: Chandler Jones
Position: Outside linebacker
Cap hit: $15,500,000
Base salary: $3,000,000
Signing bonus: N/A
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: $2,333,334
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 10.85

Atlanta Falcons

Highest-paid player: Matt Ryan
Position: Quarterback
Cap hit: $26,912,500
Base salary: $2,000,000
Signing bonus: $9,300,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: $2,000,000
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: $13,612,500
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 14.55

Baltimore Ravens

Highest-paid player: Ronnie Stanley
Position: Tackle
Cap hit: $15,250,000
Base salary: $7,500,000
Signing bonus: $4,500,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: $3,250,000
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 8.33

Buffalo Bills

Highest-paid player: Stefon Diggs
Position: Wide receiver
Cap hit: $13,008,333
Base salary: $12,408,333
Signing bonus: N/A
Roster bonus: $500,000
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: $100,000
Restructure bonus:
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 6.91

Carolina Panthers

Highest-paid player: Teddy Bridgewater
Position: Quarterback
Cap hit: $22,953,125
Base salary: $17,000,000
Signing bonus: $5,000,000
Roster bonus: $703,125
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: $250,000
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 12.31

Chicago Bears

Highest-paid player: Allen Robinson
Position: Wide receiver
Cap hit: $17,880,000
Base salary: $17,880,000
Signing bonus: N/A
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 9.4

Cincinnati Bengals

Highest-paid player: Trae Waynes
Position: Cornerback
Cap hit: $15,800,000
Base salary: $8,400,000
Signing bonus: $5,000,000
Roster bonus: $2,000,000
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: $400,000
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 8.1

Cleveland Browns

Highest-paid player: Odell Beckham, Jr.
Position: Wide receiver
Cap hit: $15,750,000
Base salary: $14,500,000
Signing bonus: N/A
Roster bonus: $1,000,000
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: $250,000
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 7.43

Dallas Cowboys

Highest-paid player: DeMarcus Lawrence
Position: Defensive end
Cap hit: $25,000,000
Base salary: $17,000,000
Signing bonus: $5,000,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: $3,000,000
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 11.91

Denver Broncos

Highest-paid player: Von Miller
Position: Outside linebacker
Cap hit: $22,225,000
Base salary: $17,500,000
Signing bonus: N/A
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: $500,000
Restructure bonus: $4,225,000
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 11.07

Detroit Lions

Highest-paid player: Trey Flowers
Position: Defensive end
Cap hit: $19,989,000
Base salary: $14,375,000
Signing bonus: $5,614,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 10.11

Green Bay Packers

Highest-paid player: Aaron Rodgers
Position: Quarterback
Cap hit: $37,202,000
Base salary: $14,700,000
Signing bonus: $11,500,000
Roster bonus: $6,800,000
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: $500,000
Restructure bonus: $2,852,000
Misc. bonus: $850,000
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 19.98

Houston Texans

Highest-paid player: Deshaun Watson
Position: Quarterback
Cap hit: $15,940,000
Base salary: $10,540,000
Signing bonus: $5,400,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 8.2

Indianpolis Colts

Highest-paid player: Carson Wentz
Position: Quarterback
Cap hit: $20,400,000
Base salary: $15,400,000
Signing bonus: N/A
Roster bonus: $5,000,000
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 10.68

Jacksonville Jaguars

Highest-paid player: Andrew Norwell
Position: Guard
Cap hit: $15,000,000
Base salary: $12,000,000
Signing bonus: $3,000,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 7.18

Kansas City Chiefs

Highest-paid player: Frank Clark
Position: Defensive end
Cap hit: $25,800,000
Base salary: $18,500,000
Signing bonus: $5,200,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: $500,000
Restructure bonus: $1,600,000
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 13.69

Las Vegas Raiders

Highest-paid player: Derek Carr
Position: Quarterback
Cap hit: $22,125,000
Base salary: $19,525,000
Signing bonus: $2,500,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: $100,000
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 11.63

Los Angeles Chargers

Highest-paid player: Joey Bosa
Position: Defensive end
Cap hit: $20,750,000
Base salary: $13,750,000
Signing bonus: $7,000,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 10.82

Los Angeles Rams

Highest-paid player: Aaron Donald
Position: Defensive tackle
Cap hit: $27,892,000
Base salary: $19,892,000
Signing bonus: $8,000,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 14.91

Miami Dolphins

Highest-paid player: Byron Jones
Position: Cornerback
Cap hit: $16,100,000
Base salary: $14,000,000
Signing bonus: $2,100,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 8.16

Minnesota Vikings

Highest-paid player: Kirk Cousins
Position: Quarterback
Cap hit: $31,000,000
Base salary: $21,000,000
Signing bonus: $10,000,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 16.55

New England Patriots

Highest-paid player: Stephon Gilmore
Position: Cornerback
Cap hit: $15,014,584
Base salary: $7,000,000
Signing bonus: $3,600,000
Roster bonus: $343,750
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: $4,070,834
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 7.3

New Orleans Saints

Highest-paid player: Ryan Ramczyk
Position: Right tackle
Cap hit: $11,064,000
Base salary: $11,064,000
Signing bonus: N/A
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 5.96

New York Giants

Highest-paid player: James Bradberry
Position: Cornerback
Cap hit: $13,250,000
Base salary: $5,900,000
Signing bonus: $3,000,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: $100,000
Restructure bonus: $4,000,000
Misc. bonus: $250,000
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 7.14

New York Jets

Highest-paid player: Carl Lawson
Position: Defensive end
Cap hit: $14,333,333
Base salary: $6,200,000
Signing bonus: $333,333
Roster bonus: $7,800,000
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 6.81

Philadelphia Eagles

Highest-paid player: Fletcher Cox
Position: Defensive tackle
Cap hit: $23,880,000
Base salary: $15,000,000
Signing bonus: N/A
Roster bonus: $1,000,000
Option bonus: $4,134,000
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: $3,746,000
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 11.54

Pittsburgh Steelers

Highest-paid player: Ben Roethlisberger
Position: Quarterback
Cap hit: $25,910,000
Base salary: $1,075,000
Signing bonus: $15,085,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: $9,750,000
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 13.82

San Francisco 49ers

Highest-paid player: Jimmy Garoppolo
Position: Quarterback
Cap hit: $24,100,000
Base salary: $1,400,000
Signing bonus: $300,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: $600,000
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 13.49

Seattle Seahawks

Highest-paid player: Seattle Seahawks
Position: Russell Wilson
Cap hit: Quarterback
Base salary: $32,000,000
Signing bonus: $19,000,000
Roster bonus: $13,000,000
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 17.4

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Highest-paid player: Mike Evans
Position: Wide receiver
Cap hit: $16,637,500
Base salary: $12,250,000
Signing bonus: N/A
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: $4,387,500
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 9.14

Tennessee Titans

Highest-paid player: Ryan Tannehill
Position: Quarterback
Cap hit: $29,500,000
Base salary: $24,500,000
Signing bonus: $5,000,000
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 15.48

Washington Redskins

Highest-paid player: Brandon Scherff
Position: Guard
Cap hit: $18,036,000
Base salary: $18,036,000
Signing bonus: N/A
Roster bonus: N/A
Option bonus: N/A
Workout bonus: N/A
Restructure bonus: N/A
Misc. bonus: N/A
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 9.03

League Average

Cap hit: $21,057,366
Base salary: $13,984,229
Signing bonus: $5,805,754
Roster bonus: $2,544,688
Option bonus: $3,128,000
Workout bonus: $330,000
Restructure bonus: $4,870,652
Misc. bonus: $550,000
% of total cap spent on highest-paid player: 10.93

MLB

Baseball started back up on April 1 and the All-Star break is scheduled for July 13. Last year’s season was postponed for months and teams wound up playing fewer than half their games. This year, fans are making up for lost time and packed stadiums have caused controversy.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Highest Paid Player: Madison Bumgarner
Age: 31
Position: Starting pitcher
Base Salary: $19,000,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $19,000,000
Adjusted Salary: $14,000,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 16.66

Atlanta Braves

Highest Paid Player: Freddie Freeman
Age: 31
Position: First base
Base Salary: $22,000,000
Signing Bonus: $359,375
Payroll Salary: $22,359,375
Adjusted Salary: $22,359,375
% of Team’s Payroll: 17.28

Baltimore Orioles

Highest Paid Player: Chris Davis
Age: 35
Position: First base
Base Salary: $17,000,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $21,065,362
Adjusted Salary: $21,065,362
% of Team’s Payroll: 46.05

Boston Red Sox

Highest Paid Player: Xander Bogaerts
Age: 28
Position: Short stop
Base Salary: $20,000,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $20,000,000
Adjusted Salary: $20,000,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 11.62

Chicago Cubs

Highest Paid Player: Jason Heyward
Age: 31
Position: Right field
Base Salary: $21,000,000
Signing Bonus: $2,500,000
Payroll Salary: $23,500,000
Adjusted Salary: $23,500,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 16.34

Chicago White Sox

Highest Paid Player: Yasmani Grandal
Age: 32
Position: Catcher
Base Salary: $18,250,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $18,250,000
Adjusted Salary: $18,250,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 15.04

Cincinnati Reds

Highest Paid Player: Nick Castellanos & Mike Moustakas
Age: 29/32
Position: Right field/second base
Base Salary: $14,000,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $14,000,000
Adjusted Salary: $14,000,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 12.4

Cleveland Indians

Highest Paid Player: Jose Ramirez
Age: 28
Position: Third base
Base Salary: $9,000,000
Signing Bonus: $400,000
Payroll Salary: $9,400,000
Adjusted Salary: $9,400,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 22.94

Colorado Rockies

Highest Paid Player: Charlie Blackmon
Age: 35
Position: Right field
Base Salary: $21,000,000
Signing Bonus: $333,333
Payroll Salary: $21,333,333
Adjusted Salary: $21,333,333
% of Team’s Payroll: 20.03

Detroit Tigers

Highest Paid Player: Miguel Cabrera
Age: 38
Position: Designated hitter
Base Salary: $30,000,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $30,000,000
Adjusted Salary: $30,000,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 39.78

Houston Astros

Highest Paid Player: Jose Altuve
Age: 31
Position: Second base
Base Salary: $26,000,000
Signing Bonus: $3,000,000
Payroll Salary: $29,000,000
Adjusted Salary: $29,000,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 15.77

Kansas City Royals

Highest Paid Player: Danny Duffy
Age: 32
Position: Starting pitcher
Base Salary: $15,500,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $15,500,000
Adjusted Salary: $15,500,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 18.38

Los Angeles Angels

Highest Paid Player: Mike Trout
Age: 29
Position: Center field
Base Salary: $35,450,000
Signing Bonus: $1,666,667
Payroll Salary: $37,116,666
Adjusted Salary: $37,116,666
% of Team’s Payroll: 21.65

Los Angeles Dodgers

Highest Paid Player: Trevor Bauer
Age: 30
Position: Starting pitcher
Base Salary: $28,000,000
Signing Bonus: $3,333,333
Payroll Salary: $31,333,333
Adjusted Salary: $31,333,333
% of Team’s Payroll: 13.15

Miami Marlins

Highest Paid Player: Starling Marte
Age: 32
Position: Center field
Base Salary: $12,500,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $12,500,000
Adjusted Salary: $12,500,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 26.48

Milwaukee Brewers

Highest Paid Player: Lorenzo Cain
Age: 35
Position: Center field
Base Salary: $17,000,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $16,000,000
Adjusted Salary: $16,000,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 19.22

Minnesota Twins

Highest Paid Player: Josh Donaldson
Age: 35
Position: Third base
Base Salary: $21,000,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $21,000,000
Adjusted Salary: $21,000,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 17.82

New York Mets

Highest Paid Player: Francisco Lindor
Age: 27
Position: Short stop
Base Salary: $22,300,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $22,300,000
Adjusted Salary: $22,300,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 11.99

New York Yankees

Highest Paid Player: Gerrit Cole
Age: 30
Position: Starting pitcher
Base Salary: $36,000,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $36,000,000
Adjusted Salary: $36,000,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 18.32

Oakland Athletics

Highest Paid Player: Trevor Rosenthal
Age: 31
Position: Relief pitcher/closer
Base Salary: $11,000,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $11,000,000
Adjusted Salary: $11,000,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 14.18

Philadelphia Phillies

Highest Paid Player: Bryce Harper
Age: 28
Position: Right field
Base Salary: $26,000,000
Signing Bonus: $1,538,462
Payroll Salary: $27,538,462
Adjusted Salary: $27,538,462
% of Team’s Payroll: 15.39

Pittsburgh Pirates

Highest Paid Player: Gregory Polanco
Age: 29
Position: Right field
Base Salary: $11,000,000
Signing Bonus: $600,000
Payroll Salary: $11,600,000
Adjusted Salary: $11,600,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 25.92

San Diego Padres

Highest Paid Player: Manny Machado
Age: 28
Position: Third base
Base Salary: $30,000,000
Signing Bonus: $2,000,000
Payroll Salary: $32,000,000
Adjusted Salary: $32,000,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 19.78

San Francisco Giants

Highest Paid Player: Buster Posey
Age: 34
Position: Catcher
Base Salary: $21,400,000
Signing Bonus: $777,777
Payroll Salary: $22,177,777
Adjusted Salary: $22,177,777
% of Team’s Payroll: 15.18

Seattle Mariners

Highest Paid Player: Kyle Seager
Age: 33
Position: Third base
Base Salary: $18,000,000
Signing Bonus: $500,000
Payroll Salary: $18,500,000
Adjusted Salary: $18,500,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 27.35

St. Louis Cardinals

Highest Paid Player: Paul Goldschmidt
Age: 33
Position: First base
Base Salary: $22,000,000
Signing Bonus: $4,000,000
Payroll Salary: $26,000,000
Adjusted Salary: $26,000,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 16.81

Tampa Bay Rays

Highest Paid Player: Kevin Kiermaier
Age: 31
Position: Center field
Base Salary: $11,500,000
Signing Bonus: $166,666
Payroll Salary: $11,666,666
Adjusted Salary: $11,666,666
% of Team’s Payroll: 20.66

Texas Rangers

Highest Paid Player: Khris Davis
Age: 33
Position: Designated hitter
Base Salary: $16,750,000
Signing Bonus: N/A
Payroll Salary: $16,750,000
Adjusted Salary: $16,750,000
% of Team’s Payroll: 22.09

Toronto Blue Jays

Highest Paid Player: George Springer
Age: 31
Position: Center field
Base Salary: $22,000,000
Signing Bonus: $1,666,667
Payroll Salary: $23,666,666
Adjusted Salary: $23,666,666
% of Team’s Payroll: 17.87

Washington Nationals

Highest Paid Player: Max Scherzer
Age: 36
Position: Starting pitcher
Base Salary: $27,360,623
Signing Bonus: $7,142,857
Payroll Salary: $34,503,480
Adjusted Salary: $34,503,480
% of Team’s Payroll: 21.32

League Average

Age: 32
Base Salary: $20,733,687
Signing Bonus: $1,874,071
Payroll Salary: $21,835,371
Adjusted Salary: $21,668,704
% of Team’s Payroll: 19.92

More From GOBankingRates

John Csiszar contributed to the reporting for this article.

MLB Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates used Spotrac’s Major League Baseball (MLB) team payrolls for the 2021 season to find the highest-paid player on every MLB team in terms of adjusted salary. For each team, GOBankingRates found (1) the name of the highest-paid player in terms of adjusted salary; (2) the player’s age; (3) position played; (4) base salary; (5) signing bonus; (6) payroll salary; (7) adjusted salary; and (8) percent of team’s total payroll accounted for by the player’s salary. All data were collected on and up to date as of March 22, 2021.

NBA Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates used Spotrac’s National Basketball League (NBA) team financials for the 2020-2021 season to find the highest-paid player on every NBA team in terms of cap hit. For each team, GOBankingRates found (1) the name of the highest-paid player in terms of cap hit; (2) the player’s age; (3) position played; (4) base salary; (5) total cap hit; and (6) percent of team’s total cap is accounted for by the player’s salary. All data were collected on and up to date as of March 29, 2021.

NFL Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates used Spotrac’s National Football League’s (NFL) team financials for the 2021 season to find the highest-paid player on every NFL team in terms of cap hit. For each team, GOBankingRates found (1) the name of the highest-paid player in terms of adjusted salary; (2) position played; (3) cap hit; (4) base salary; (5) signing bonus; (6) roster bonus; (7) option bonus; (8) workout bonus; (9) restructure bonus; (10) miscellaneous bonus; and (11) percent of team’s total cap accounted for by the player’s salary. All data were collected on and up to date as of March 29, 2021.