By Edwin Díaz and Timmy Trumpet’s “Narco” entrance song has returned after missing the entire 2023 season with a knee injury.
The New York Mets’ All-Star closer had just signed the richest contract in baseball history for a relief pitcher − a five-year, $102 million deal − before he got injured during the World Baseball Classic.
Díaz’s deal broke the previous high for a reliever, set when Aroldis Chapman returned to the New York Yankees after the 2016 season for a five-year, $86 million deal. Chapman voided the last two years and reached a $48 million, three-year contract that brought his earnings to $104 million over six seasons.
This offseason, Josh Hader signed a five-year, $95 million deal with the Houston Astros. Hader’s deal can be considered the most lucrative for a relief pitcher, even while falling short of the total dollars in Díaz’s $102 million contract that began last year. Díaz’s deal includes $26.5 million in deferred payments he won’t completely receive until 2042 and was valued at $93.2 million for baseball’s luxury tax and $88.8 million by the players’ association.
Who are the highest-paid MLB relief pitchers in 2024?
Here’s the top 10:
1. Edwin Díaz, Mets − $21,250,000
2. Josh Hader, Astros − $19,000,000
t-3. Raisel Iglesias, Braves − $16,000,000
t-3. Kenley Jansen, Red Sox − $16,000,000
5. Ryan Pressly, Astros − $14,000,000
t-6. Taylor Rogers, Giants − $12,000,000
t-6. Craig Kimbrel, Orioles − $12,000,000
8. Rafael Montero, Astros − $11,500,000
9. Robert Stephenson, Angels − $11,000,000
t-10. Aroldis Chapman, Pirates − $10,500,000
t-10. Chad Green, Blue Jays − $10,500,000
Who is highest-paid MLB player at each position in 2024?
- Catcher: J.T. Realmuto, Phillies − $23.9 million
- First basemen: Kris Bryant, Rockies − $28.0 million
- Second basemen: José Altuve, Astros − $29.2 million
- Shortstop: Corey Seager, Rangers − $35 million
- Third basemen: Anthony Rendon, Angels − $38.6 million
- Center fielder: Aaron Judge, Yankees − $40 million
- Left fielder: Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers − $23.5 million
- Right fielder: Juan Soto, Yankees − $31.1 million
- Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers − $70 million
- Starting pitchers: Max Scherzer, Rangers and Justin Verlander, Astros − $43.3 million
- Relief pitcher: Edwin Díaz, Mets − $21.2 million
Top 10 highest-paid at each position
1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | C | DH | SP
Source: USA TODAY Sports, Cot’s Baseball Contracts
