The 2025 Major League Baseball season has commenced, highlighting the significance of both pitching bullpens and batting lineups for teams aspiring to reach the postseason. Among these teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning World Series champions, have heavily invested in pitching talent. This year, the Dodgers have secured the second-highest payroll in Major League Baseball, totaling $306.5 million, with Shohei Ohtani, a two-way player, accounting for nearly a quarter of this amount, according to data from Spotrac.
In contrast, the New York Mets, who were defeated by the Dodgers in the 2024 National League pennant race, have allocated the league’s highest payroll to signing outfielder Juan Soto to a historic contract, thereby limiting funds for their bullpen.
While this analysis excludes starting pitchers sidelined due to injuries such as Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees, who is out for the season following Tommy John surgery, it notes those who remain questionable for the season’s start, like Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Guardians, who is recuperating from the same procedure.
Spotrac’s data reveals that the top five starting pitchers by team have a median average salary of $40 million for the 2025 season, compared to $5 million for those in the bottom five. The average age for starting pitchers stands at 32.5 years. The majority of teams are scheduled to kick off their season on March 27, 2025.
Below is a list of starting pitcher salaries for each of the 30 MLB teams, ranked in ascending order:
Ben Lively of the Cleveland Guardians, age 33, earns an average salary of $2.3 million in 2025. He is on a 1-year contract totaling $2.3 million and has been in the MLB for six seasons.
Drew Rasmussen of the Tampa Bay Rays, age 29, has a 2025 average salary of $4.3 million, with a 2-year contract totaling $8.5 million. He has six MLB seasons under his belt.
Martín Pérez of the Chicago White Sox, age 33, earns $5 million on a one-year contract. He has played in the MLB for 14 seasons.
Brandon Woodruff of the Milwaukee Brewers, age 32, earns $8.8 million on a 2-year contract totaling $17.5 million. He has eight MLB seasons of experience.
Michael Soroka of the Washington Nationals, age 27, has an average salary of $9 million for the year, with a one-year contract. He has participated in six MLB seasons.
Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins, age 29, earns $11.2 million on his 4th year of a 5-year contract totaling $56 million. He has been in the league for eight seasons.
Kyle Freeland of the Colorado Rockies, age 31, has a 2025 average salary of $12.9 million on a 5-year contract totaling $64.5 million, now in its fourth year. He has played nine MLB seasons.
Charlie Morton of the Baltimore Orioles, age 41, is on a one-year contract worth $15 million and brings 18 seasons of MLB experience.
Mitch Keller of the Pittsburgh Pirates, age 28, earns $15.4 million annually on a 5-year contract totaling $77 million, currently in its second year. He has seven MLB seasons experience.
Michael Wacha of the Kansas City Royals, age 33, has a 3-year contract worth $51 million, averaging $17 million annually. He has 13 seasons of MLB experience.
Jameson Taillon of the Chicago Cubs, age 33, earns $17 million a year on his third year of a 4-year contract totaling $68 million. He has played in the league for nine seasons.
Jack Flaherty of the Detroit Tigers, age 29, brings in $17.5 million for the year, part of a 2-year contract totaling $35 million. He has been in the MLB for nine seasons.
Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres is 38 years old and earns $18 million yearly, in the third year of a 6-year contract totaling $108 million. He has accumulated 13 MLB seasons.
Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros, age 31, is under a one-year contract at $18 million. He has eight seasons of MLB experience.
Pablo Lopez of the Minnesota Twins, age 29, earns $18.4 million annually on a 4-year contract worth $73.5 million, now in its second year. His MLB career spans eight seasons.
Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves, age 35, is earning $19 million annually on a two-year contract. He has played in MLB for 15 seasons.
Walker Buehler of the Boston Red Sox, age 30, has a 2025 salary of $21.1 million on a one-year contract. His MLB career includes eight seasons.
Nick Martinez of the Cincinnati Reds, age 34, also earns $21.1 million annually on a one-year contract. He has eight MLB seasons to his name.
Yusei Kikuchi of the Los Angeles Angels, age 33, is under a 3-year contract valued at $63.7 million, receiving $21.2 million annually, and has participated in seven MLB seasons.
Luis Castillo of the Seattle Mariners, age 32, has a 5-year contract totaling $108 million, with a $21.6 million yearly salary, currently in its third year. He has nine seasons of MLB experience.
Kevin Gausman of the Toronto Blue Jays, age 34, earns $22 million annually under a 5-year contract worth $110 million, currently in its third year. He has played 13 MLB seasons.
Luis Severino of the Athletics, age 31, earns $22.3 million annually on a 3-year contract totaling $67 million. His MLB career includes ten seasons.
Robbie Ray of the San Francisco Giants, age 33, is under a 5-year contract first signed with Seattle Mariners, valued at $115 million, earning $23 million annually, and now in its fourth year. His MLB career spans 12 seasons.
Sonny Gray of the St. Louis Cardinals, age 35, has a 2025 salary of $25 million on a 3-year contract valued at $75 million, currently in its second year. He has played 13 MLB seasons.
Sean Manaea of the New York Mets, age 33, is on a 3-year contract worth $75 million, receiving $25 million annually. He has competed in 10 MLB seasons.
Max Fried of the New York Yankees, age 31, earns a 2025 salary of $27.25 million on an 8-year contract totaling $218 million, now in its first year. His MLB experience covers nine seasons.
Corbin Burnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks, age 30, is on a 6-year contract worth $210 million, earning $35 million annually. He has spent eight seasons in MLB.
Jacob deGrom of the Texas Rangers, age 36, has a 2025 salary of $40 million on a 5-year contract totaling $185 million, currently in its third year. His MLB career spans 12 seasons.
Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies, age 34, is on a 3-year contract valued at $126 million, earning $42 million annually. He has played in MLB for 11 seasons.
- Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, age 30, earns a 2025 average salary of $70 million under a 10-year contract totaling $700 million, currently in its second year. His MLB career covers nine seasons.
