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Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

MLB's Highest-Paid Starting Pitchers in 2026

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Scott Boeck | Last updated Dec 26, 2025 1:37 PM ET

It pays to be an ace of a 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 heading into the 2026 season, according to Spotrac.com (as of Dec. 24):

Highest-paid starting pitchers by 2026 salary

1. Zack Wheeler, Phillies – $42,000,000 (3 years, $126,000,000)

2. Jacob deGrom, Rangers – $38,000,000 (5 years, $185,000,000)

Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom has two more years on his contract.Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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)

T-8. Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers – $25,000,000 (3 years, $75,000,000)

T-8. Robbie Ray, Giants – $25,000,000 (5 years, $115,000,000)

10. Aaron Nola, Phillies – $24,571,428 (7 years, $172,000,000)

T-11. Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays – $23,000,000 (5 years, $110,000,000)

T-11. Seth Lugo, Royals - $23,000,000 (2 years, $46,000,000)

T-11. Logan Webb, Giants – $23,000,000 (5 years, $90,000,000)

14. Luis Castillo, Mariners – $22,750,000 (5 years, $108,000,000)

15. Shota Imanaga, Cubs - $22,025,000 (1 year, $22,025,000)

16. Max Fried, Yankees – $22,000,000 (8 years, $218,000,000)

Max Fried won 19 games in the first year of his eight-year deal with the Yankees.John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

17. Pablo Lopez, Twins - $21,500,000 (4 years, $73,500,000)

18. Yusei Kikuchi, Angels – $21,225,000 (3 years, $63,000,000)

T-19. Cristian Javier, Astros - $21,000,000 (5 years, $64,000,000)

T-19. Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks – $21,000,000 (4 years, $80,000,000)

T-21. Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks – $20,000,000 (6 years, $210,000,000)

T-21. Jack Flaherty, Tigers - $20,000,000 (2 years, $35,000,000)

T-21. Joe Musgrove, Padres – $20,000,000 (5 years, $100,000,000)

T-21. Luis Severino, Athletics – $20,000,000 (3 years, $67,000,000)

T-21. Spencer Strider, Braves - $20,000,000 (6 years, $75,000,000)

Top remaining free agent starting pitchers

These are the best remaining starting pitchers on the MLB free agent market this offseason (ranked by 2025 WAR):

Framber Valdez (7.7 WAR)
Ranger Suárez (7.5)
Nick Martinez (5.5)
Chris Bassitt (4.8)
Michael King (4.7) -- agreed to a three-year, $75 million deal with the Padres, with a $17 million salary in 2026.
Zac Gallen (3.9)
Merrill Kelly (3.8) -- agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with the Diamondbacks, with a $19 million salary in 2026.
Zack Littell (3.7)
Patrick Corbin (3.6)
Erick Fedde (3.2)
Justin Verlander (2.9)
Zach Eflin (2.6)