MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani is projected to be the highest-paid player in history during this upcoming baseball season, according to Forbes’s Justin Birnbaum.
The current Angels pitcher is set to earn $30 million on the field this season, along with $35 million just from endorsements. This is quite the jump from him earning just $6 million in endorsements in 2021 and $20 million last season. He currently has 13 partnerships with a mixture of American and Japanese companies, such as Seiko Watch, New Balance and Fanatics.
In comparison to Ohtani’s record numbers off the field, the MLB star with the next most endorsement earnings is Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who is set to earn around $4.5 million off the field this year. Last year, Phillies’ Bryce Harper earned $6.5 million in endorsements, and that is the next highest amount in recent memory.
Ohtani will play for the Angels on a one-year, $30 million contract that he signed back in October to avoid arbitration. His future for 2024 will be a big talking point this season.
While Ohtani is making the most off the field by a landslide this season, Mets pitcher Max Scherzer will earn the most money from his contract, receiving $58.3 million this season.
Forbes released the list of the Top 10 most paid MLB players for the 2023 season, so here’s the full list of those players and what they’re set to earn.
1. Shohei Ohtani: $30 million on the field, $35 million off the field
2. Max Scherzer: $58.3 million on the field, $1 million off the field
3. Aaron Judge: $40 million on the field, $4.5 million off the field
4. Justin Verlander: $43.3 million on the field, $1 million off the field
5. Mike Trout: $35.5 million on the field, $4 million off the field
6. Anthony Rendon: $38 million on the field, $0.2 million off the field
7. Gerrit Cole: $36 million on the field, $0.5 million off the field
8. Carlos Correa: $36 million on the field, $1 million off the field
9. Corey Seager: $35 million on the field, $1 million off the field
10. Nolan Arenado: $35 million on the field, $0.2 million off the field
