The last two offseasons have produced some of the largest contracts in MLB history. Prior to the lockout in 2021, Corey Seager and Marcus Semien received a combined $500 million when they signed their respective deals with the Texas Rangers.
The New York Mets also signed Max Scherzer to a three-year, $130 million contract, which set a record for the highest average annual salary at $43.33 million. The team later signed Francisco Lindon to a 10-year, $341 million contract extension.
The aforementioned deals contributed to the MLB average salary rising to a record $4.22 million during the 2022 season, via Ronald Blum of the Associated Press:
Major League Baseball’s average salary rose 14.8% to a record $4.22 million last year after the end of the lockout, boosted by big deals for Max Scherzer, Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien and Corey Seager.
The rate of increase was the highest since a 17.7% increase in 2000 to $1.61 million, according to final calculations by the players’ association.
The figures are based on the players who were on active rosters and the injured list as of August 31, 2022, which was the last day before rosters expanded. Before the 2022 season, average MLB salaries had declined for four consecutive years.
The total value of contracts continued to soar this past offseason, with Aaron Judge signing a nine-year, $360 million deal with the New York Yankees.
Trea Turner also received an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, Xander Bogaerts received $280 million over 11 years from the San Diego Padres, and Justin Verlander tied Scherzer for the highest average annual salary in his contract with the Mets.
MLB set record revenue of nearly $11 billion during 2022 season
Revenue in MLB has continued to rise each year outside of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and that again was the case last year.
The league earned roughly $11 billion despite attendance totals dropping, which can be attributed to the expanded postseason and new streaming deals.
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