The most overpaid & underpaid players at every MLB position

Skenes took the baseball world by storm last season, winning NL Rookie of the Year and finishing third in Cy Young voting after going 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts. Entering his second season, Skenes is only making the league minimum around $800,000.

Walker signed a four-year, $72 million deal with Philly before the 2023 season, but the deal has been a disaster to this point, with a 5.27 ERA in the first two seasons. He isn’t penciled into the 2025 starting rotation but is still set to earn $18 million.

Cleveland has arguably the best closer in MLB with Emmanuel Clase, and Smith could be the game’s best setup man. He was a Rookie of the Year candidate last season after posting a 1.91 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 75.1 innings. Smith will draw the league minimum salary in 2025.

After a breakout season with Tampa Bay in 2023, Stephenson signed a three-year, $33 million contract last offseason with the Angels only to miss the first year with arm issues. Stephenson will earn $11 million this season but might not return until midseason.

Miller became an All-Star closer last season, posting a 2.49 ERA, 24 saves, and 104 strikeouts in 65 innings. He will earn the league minimum salary in 2025.

Pressly reenters the closer picture after getting traded from the Astros to the Cubs. His velocity and strikeout rates have shown signs of decline in his mid-30’s, and he posted a 3.49 ERA last season. While still a quality pitcher, his $14 million salary is in the upper tier of relievers.

Bailey hasn’t shown much at the dish, but his elite defense behind the plate has been highly valuable for the Giants. The reigning Gold Glover will earn the league minimum in 2025.

Garver was signed last offseason to split time between DH and catcher for the Mariners. He managed to hit 15 home runs in 430 plate appearances, but Garver hit only .172 with a .627 OPS. He’s set to earn $12.5 million this season.

Acquired from the Dodgers last offseason, Busch had a strong rookie campaign hitting .248-21-65 with a .775 OPS. The Cubs have him under club control through 2029, and he’s currently earning the MLB minimum.

Contreras signed with the Cardinals as a catcher in 2023, but he’s set to move over to first base this season after struggling with injuries last year. He’s still a good hitter, posting a .848 OPS last season, but Contreras is also on the wrong side of 30 and will earn $18 million this season.

Turang is a natural shortstop who has shifted over to second base, now showing elite defense at his new position. He won the Gold Glove and swiped 50 bases last year, and is still earning the league minimum salary.

McNeil is entering the third year of a four-year, $50 million contract that hasn’t worked out well for the Mets. He hit only .238-12-44 with a sub-.700 OPS in 129 games last season and could lose playing time to the team’s youngsters this year. McNeil will make $15.75 million in 2025.

Vientos had a breakout season in 2024, hitting .266-27-71 in only 454 plate appearances. His defense remains a work in progress at third base, but the Mets will take it, given the offense and his league minimum salary.

Rendon’s contract has been a black eye on the Angels organization, as he’s played a total of 257 games in five seasons with a .717 OPS. He still has two years left on the deal and will make about $38.6 million this season.

Henderson has become a true superstar for the O’s, winning AL Rookie of the Year in 2023 and finishing fourth in AL MVP voting last year after hitting 37 home runs and swiping 21 bases. He will earn the league minimum this year before becoming arbitration-eligible next offseason.

Baez signed a six-year, $140 million contract with the Tigers in 2022, but the deal has been disastrous so far. The results keep getting worse, as Baez hit only .184-6-37 in 80 games last season. He will make $25 million in 2025 and then $24 million in each of the following two years.

Duran has shown the versatility to play both left and center for the Red Sox, while showing excellent offensive skills in the process. Last season was his true breakout, hitting .285-21-74 with 34 steals while leading the AL in both doubles and triples. He will make the league minimum salary in 2025.

Benintendi signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the White Sox in 2023, but the early returns have been bleak. He did rebound from a poor first season to hit 20 home runs in 2024, though Benintendi also hit only .229. He will make $17.1 million this year.

Merrill was an elite player in his rookie season, winning the Silver Slugger and finishing second in the NL Rookie of the Year vote behind Paul Skenes. He hit .292-24-90 with elite defense while earning the league minimum.

Trout’s career has been tough to watch lately, with one injury after another. Still productive when he plays, Trout appeared in only 29 games last season due to a knee injury. He’s set to make about $37.1 million in each of the next six seasons.

Carroll has become a franchise player for the Diamondbacks, winning Rookie of the Year in 2023 and launching 22 home runs with 35 steals last year. He signed an eight-year, $111 million contract in his first season but will make only $5.625 million in 2025.

Plagued by injuries in three seasons with the Mets, Marte played only 94 games and struggled offensively last season. His path to playing time in 2025 is murky after the team signed Juan Soto, but Marte will still make $20.75 million in the final year of his deal.

Carpenter has been a highly productive hitter early in his career while splitting time between the outfield and DH. He played only 87 games last season but still managed to hit .284-18-57. Carpenter will earn the league minimum salary in 2025.

The marriage between the Rockies and Bryant hasn’t been smooth, with the former MVP’s poor play after signing a seven-year, $182 million contract in 2022. He hit only .218-2-15 in 37 games last season, and has yet to play more than 80 games in a single season over his three years in Colorado. Bryant is slated to earn $27 million in each of the next four years.