It pays to be an ace of a Major League Baseball starting rotation.
Four of the 10 highest-paid players in the major leagues are starting pitchers.
Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies leads the pack and is expected to be the second-highest-paid player in 2026. Right fielder Juan Soto of the New York Mets is baseball’s highest-paid player.
Wheeler signed a three-year, $126 million contract extension — the highest annual average salary in a contract extension in baseball history at the time — before the 2024 season.
For context, the average annual value of Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers is $70 million. Of that, $68 million is deferred, which means his actual take-home salary in 2026 is $2 million.
Here's a look at the highest-paid starting pitchers during the 2026 season, according to Spotrac.com (as of Aug. 3):
Highest-Paid Starting Pitchers by 2026 Salary
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
1. Zack Wheeler, Phillies – $42,000,000 (3 years, $126,000,000)
2. Jacob deGrom, Rangers – $38,000,000 (5 years, $185,000,000)
3. Gerrit Cole, Yankees – $36,000,000 (9 years, $324,000,000)
4. Dylan Cease, Blue Jays– $35,000,000 (7 years, $210,000,000)
5. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers – $30,000,000 (5 years, $136,562,500)
6. Garrett Crochet, Red Sox – $28,000,000 (6 years, $170,000,000)
7. Carlos Rodon, Yankees – $27,000,000 (6 years, $162,000,000)
8. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers – $25,000,000 (3 years, $75,000,000)
9. Aaron Nola, Phillies – $24,571,428 (7 years, $172,000,000)
T-10. Seth Lugo, Royals - $23,000,000 (2 years, $46,000,000)
T-10. Logan Webb, Giants – $23,000,000 (5 years, $90,000,000)
T-12. Shota Imanaga, Cubs - $22,025,000 (1 year, $22,025,000)
T-12. Brandon Woodruff, Brewers - $22,025,000 (1 year, $22,025,000)
14. Max Fried, Yankees – $22,000,000 (8 years, $218,000,000)
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
15. Pablo Lopez, Twins - $21,500,000 (4 years, $73,500,000)
16. Yusei Kikuchi, Angels – $21,225,000 (3 years, $63,000,000)
T-17. Cristian Javier, Astros - $21,000,000 (5 years, $64,000,000)
T-17. Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks – $21,000,000 (4 years, $80,000,000)
T-19. Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks – $20,000,000 (6 years, $210,000,000)
T-19. Jack Flaherty, Tigers - $20,000,000 (2 years, $35,000,000)
T-19. Joe Musgrove, Padres – $20,000,000 (5 years, $100,000,000)
T-19. Luis Severino, Athletics – $20,000,000 (3 years, $67,000,000)
T-19. Spencer Strider, Braves - $20,000,000 (6 years, $75,000,000)
T-24. Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks - $19,000,000 (2 years, $40,000,000)
T-24. Nick Pivetta, Padres - $19,000,000 (4 years, $55,000,000)
