Most Underpaid MLB Players
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Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. celebrates after a double against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 12, 2020, in Arlington, Texas.It seems there’s a metric for everything in baseball these days. So why oh why can’t some math geek devise a pay-per-performance scale that’s fair to players and management alike? (Hint: Because the players and team owners can’t agree on the day of the week let alone something this significant.)
To look at our short list of best bargains in the game (data courtesy of Spotrac), the industry could sure use it. Fans have complained about overpaid players for as long as they’ve run the bases, but it works both ways. What we don’t hear about nearly as much are the ones who are paid so little to do so much.
Here are the primary suspects . . .
30. Gio Urshela
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Position: third base
Career: five seasons (2015, 2017-present)
Teams: Cleveland Indians (2015, 2017), Toronto Blue Jays (2018), New York Yankees (2019-present)
Current contract: one year, $4.65 million
2020 statistics: .298 batting average/6 home runs/30 RBI
Bottom Line: Gio Urshela
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Urshela was slowed by an elbow problem but still produced solid numbers in a shortened season. Before you chalk it up to small sample size, consider his .314/.356/.534 slash line of the previous 162-game season.
Two years of salary arbitration lie ahead of him at which point he becomes a free agent and is eligible to sign with any club for any amount.
29. Trevor Story
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Position: shortstop
Career: five seasons (2016-present)
Teams: Colorado Rockies (2016-present)
Current contract: two years, $27.5 million
2020 statistics: .289/11/28
Bottom Line: Trevor Story
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Story averaged nearly 31 home runs in four complete seasons. Even if you factor in the Coors Field effect (that balls travel farther if they're hit at high altitude in the field's Denver location), he’s still a steal at a premium position.
There will be no shortage of suitors when he becomes an unrestricted free agency after the 2021 season.
28. Kyle Tucker
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Position: outfield
Career: three seasons (2018-present)
Teams: Houston Astros (2018-present)
Current contract: one year, $575,000 (estimated luxury tax salary)
2020 statistics: .268/9/42
Bottom Line: Kyle Tucker
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Not only did the fifth pick of the 2015 draft come into his own in the 2020 season, but he did it for a pittance of the average salary.
Tucker won’t become a free agent until 2026, but given his considerable upside, a long-term deal looks to be on the horizon.
27. Mookie Betts
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Position: outfield
Career: seven seasons (2016-present)
Teams: Boston Red Sox (2014-2019), Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-present)
Current contract: 12 years, $365 million
2020 statistics: .292/16/39
Bottom Line: Mookie Betts
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The reigning National League WAR leader is on the books through the 2028 season. He’s also uber-talented and has no history of health problems.
A minimum of five peak seasons are likely ahead of him, at which time his $25 million salary could be the price of a few dozen Dodger Dogs.
26. Cavan Biggio
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Position: second base
Career: two seasons (2019-present)
Teams: Toronto Blue Jays (2019-present)
Current contract: one year, $575,000 (estimated luxury tax salary)
2020 statistics: .250/8/28
Bottom Line: Cavan Biggio
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Like his dad Craig back in the day, this chip off the old block can reach base and steal a bag if he doesn’t hit the ball out of the park. The difference is, he does it at a fraction of the cost.
Some metrics geeks point to his high strikeout rate and short home runs, but, c’mon, he’s young. Patience, people.
25. Rhys Hoskins
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Position: first base
Career: one season (2020-present)
Teams: Philadelphia Phillies (2020-present)
Current contract: one year, $4.8 million
2020 statistics: .245/10/26
Bottom Line: Rhys Hoskins
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Hoskins comes off his best all-around season albeit an abbreviated one. His career rate of 38 homers per 600 at-bats suggests there’s more to come.
Two years of arbitration are ahead of him.
24. Michael Conforto
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Position: first base
Career: one season (2020-present)
Teams: New York Mets (2020-present)
Current contract: one year, $12.25 million
2020 statistics: .322/9/31
Bottom Line: Michael Conforto
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Conforto's numbers have improved almost across the board in each of the last three seasons. How high up?
If the trend continues, he'll be a bargain no more.
23. Anthony Santander
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Position: outfielder
Career: one season (2020-present)
Teams: Baltimore Orioles (2020-present)
Current contract: one year, $2.1 million
2020 statistics: .261/11/62
Bottom Line: Anthony Santander
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As good as this 26-year-old slugger was in the 2019 season, he was even better in the last one.
He lost a salary arbitration case last fall and has two more rounds left, which gives him more value either as a keeper or trade chip.
22. Dansby Swanson
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Position: shortstop
Career: five seasons (2016-present)
Teams: Atlanta Braves (2016-present)
Current contract: one year, $6 million
2020 statistics: .274/10/35
Bottom Line: Dansby Swanson
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His career arrow continued to point upward in the 2020 season when he posted a career-high .809 OPS and was a Gold Glove Award finalist. He lost a salary arbitration case afterward and has one more on the docket.
So, yeah, team management is in a good place here.
21. Teoscar Hernandez
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Position: designated hitter
Career: five seasons (2016-present)
Teams: Houston Astros (2016), Toronto Blue Jays (2017-present)
Current contract: one year, $4.325 million
2020 statistics: .289/16/34
Bottom Line: Teoscar Hernandez
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After Hernandez raised his batting average 59 points and finished 11th in the Most Valuable Player vote, the two sides agreed to a short-term agreement.
If he continues at his recent clip, the bottom line won’t be nearly enough. He has two dates left with the salary arbiters.
20. Trent Grisham
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Position: outfield
Career: five seasons (2020-present)
Teams: Milwaukee Brewers (2020), San Diego Padres (2021)
Current contract: one year, $575,000 (estimated luxury tax salary)
2020 statistics: .251/10/26
Bottom Line: Trent Grisham
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The Brewers may rue the day that they sent this former first-rounder along with pitcher Zach Davies to the Padres in return for pitcher Eric Lauer and infielder Luis Urias two years ago.
Grisham's numbers improved as a sophomore, so much so that he ranked eighth in WAR among National League position players. He won’t become a free agent until 2026.
19. Corey Seager
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Position: shortstop
Career: six seasons (2015-present)
Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers (2015-present)
Current contract: one year, $13.75 million
2020 statistics: .307/15/41
Bottom Line: Corey Seager
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Prorated over 600 plate appearances, this 2020 NLCS and World Series Most Valuable Player would have produced 42 home runs and 116 RBI last season. And you mean he’s only 26 years old?
Time to ante up, Big Blue. He can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
18. Salvador Perez
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Position: catcher
Career: six seasons (2015-present)
Teams: Kansas City Royals (2015-present)
Current contract: six years, $52.5 million
2020 statistics: .333/11/32
Bottom Line: Salvador Perez
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Just when you thought Perez was on the decline, he became more patient at the plate and put up career numbers as a result. Now the six-time All-Star is about to enter the final year of his contract.
The smart money says there will be one more big payday in his future.
17. Tim Anderson
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Position: shortstop
Career: five seasons (2016-present)
Teams: Chicago White Sox (2016-present)
Current contract: six years, $25 million
2020 statistics: .322/10/21
Bottom Line: Tim Anderson
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White Sox management prefers extensions to free agency, and it hit the jackpot here.
It has control over the 2019 American League batting champion through the 2024 season, the last two as club options at a meager $12.5 million and $14 million, respectfully.
16. Will Smith
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Position: catcher
Career: five seasons (2016-present)
Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-present)
Current contract: one year, $575,000 (estimated luxury tax salary)
2020 statistics: .289/8/25
Bottom Line: Will Smith
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Last season, the former first-round draft pick emerged as one of the elite catchers in the bigs. He just turned 26 years old and won’t become a free agent until after the 2026 season.
Now DuckDuckGo “Brink’s Robbery,” girls and boys.
15. Clint Frazier
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Position: outfield
Career: four seasons (2017-present)
Teams: New York Yankees (2017-present)
Current contract: one year, $2.1 million
2020 statistics: .267/8/26
Bottom Line: Clint Frazier
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Forget the basic stuff. Frazier's .905 OPS (on-base and slugging percentage) ranked 12th among American League players with more than 150 plate appearances last season. That’s right — ahead of Aaron Hicks ($10.5 mill), Aaron Judge ($10.2) and Gary Sanchez ($6.35) to name a few higher-priced teammates.
Team management has contractual control of the 26-year-old for three more seasons.
14. Brandon Lowe
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Position: second base-outfield
Career: three seasons (2018-present)
Teams: Tampa Bay Rays (2018-present)
Current contract: six years, $24 million
2020 statistics: .269/14/37
Bottom Line: Brandon Lowe
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How do the Rays stay competitive in the shark-infested American League East on a shoestring budget?
Like this: They have control over Lowe for six more years at an average salary of barely $7 million per season. Such a steal.
13. Jose Abreu
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Position: first base
Career: seven seasons (2014-present)
Teams: Chicago White Sox (2014-present)
Current contract: three years, $50 million
2020 statistics: .317/19/60
Bottom Line: Jose Abreu
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Even though the 2020 American League Most Valuable Player has been grossly underpaid for years, he wants to retire on the South Side of Chicago one day. Or so he claims.
That’s music to the ears of a franchise that acts like it’s in Dubuque, Iowa, not the No. 3 market in the country.
12. Dylan Moore
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Position: second base-shortstop-outfield
Career: two seasons (2019-present)
Teams: Seattle Mariners (2019-present)
Current contract: one year, $575,000 (estimated luxury tax salary)
2020 statistics: .255/8/17
Bottom Line: Dylan Moore
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Last season, Moore played eight positions and most of them well. Better yet, his offensive numbers improved considerably.
He showed up bigger and stronger at spring training, fully intent to claim the second base job. His free-agent due date is 2025.
11. Luke Voit
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Position: first base-designated hitter
Career: two seasons (2017-present)
Teams: St. Louis Cardinals (2017-18), New York Yankees (2018-20)
Current contract: one year, $4.7 million
2020 statistics: .277/22/52
Bottom Line: Luke Voit
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Not only did this 32nd round draft pick lead the American League in home runs, but his .948 OPS ranked sixth overall. He has three years of salary arbitration ahead of him.
And to think that the St. Louis Cardinals traded him for little more than a bag of balls . . .
10. Dominic Smith
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Position: outfield
Career: four seasons (2017-present)
Teams: New York Mets (2017-present)
Current contract: one year, $2.55 million
2020 statistics: .316/10/42
Bottom Line: Dominic Smith
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His batting average, as well as his on-base and slugging percentages, increased each of the last three seasons. What’s up (or down) with that?
We may not know until after the 2025 season when the former first-round draft pick is scheduled to become a free agent at last.
9. Marcell Ozuna
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Position: outfield
Career: eight seasons (2013-present)
Teams: Florida Marlins (2013-2018), St. Louis Cardinals (2018-19), Atlanta Braves (2020-present)
Current contract: four years, $65 million
2020 statistics: .338/18/56
Bottom Line: Marcell Ozuna
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Last season marked a return to Ozuna's 2017 All-Star standards, but his salary didn’t measure up to them.
Sooner or later, he's sure to strike it rich, but he still has three years left on his contract — four if team management exercises an option to extend it one more.
8. DJ LeMahieu
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Position: second base
Career: 10 seasons (2011-present)
Teams: Chicago Cubs (2011), Colorado Rockies (2012-18), New York Yankees (2019-present)
Current contract: six years, $90 million
2020 statistics: .364/10/27
Bottom Line: DJ LeMahieu
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Dude, this is the fourth Yankees player on the list. El cheapos! The veteran will have just turned 39 when his contract expires, but from a team management standpoint, it’s less of a dice roll when durability and consistency are taken into account.
Until then, $15 million per season is a low price to pay for a two-time batting champion and three-time Gold Glove winner still in his prime.
7. Trea Turner
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Position: shortstop-second base-outfield
Career: six seasons (2015-present)
Teams: Washington Nationals (2015-present)
Current contract: one year, $13 million
2020 statistics: .335/12/41
Bottom Line: Trea Turner
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There are few three-tool players better than this one. Only Freddie Freeman and teammate Juan Soto (more on them later) had better Offensive WAR numbers last season.
The 27-year-old can become a free agent after the 2023 season, at which point he’ll still be in his prime.
6. Ronald Acuña
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Position: outfield
Career: six seasons (2015-present)
Teams: Atlanta Braves (2015-present)
Current contract: eight years, $100 million
2020 statistics: .250/14/29
Bottom Line: Ronald Acuña
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Welcome to the big leagues, where $100 mill will get you on an underpaid list after a fairly average season. Hold the telethon, though.
This two-time Silver Slugger will be no older than 31 when his contract expires — the team holds an option for the final two seasons — which will give him another shot at the really big money.
5. Mike Yastrzemski
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Position: outfield
Career: two seasons (2019-present)
Teams: San Francisco Giants (2019-present)
Current contract: one year, $575,000 (estimated luxury tax salary)
2020 statistics: .297/10/35
Bottom Line: Mike Yastrzemski
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This late starter hit like an All-Star but was paid like a scrub last season. And he won’t become a free agent until after the 2026 campaign.
But consider that his old man Carl was paid 50,000 bucks to win the Triple Crown way back when, and it’s kinda hard to feel too sorry for him.
4. Jose Ramirez
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Position: third base
Career: eight seasons (2013-present)
Teams: Cleveland Indians (2013-present)
Current contract: four years, $26 million
2020 statistics: .292/17/46
Bottom Line: Jose Ramirez
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This 2020 American League runner-up is in the final year of a deal that will pay a mere $9 million this season. Team management holds the options for the 2022 ($12 million) and 2023 ($14 million) seasons.
The least the bean counters can do is wear ski masks when they come to the table next time.
3. Fernando Tatis Jr.
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Position: shortstop
Career: two seasons (2019-present)
Teams: San Diego Padres (2019-present)
Current contract: 14 years, $340 million
2020 statistics: .277/17/45
Bottom Line: Fernando Tatis Jr.
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Before that total value number knocks you out, let’s take a deeper dive, shall we? This season his salary is a reasonable $24.3 million (think: 41-year-old Albert Pujols), after which he’ll be paid $23 mill over the next three combined.
The deal will max out at $39 million in 2029, at which time he’ll be only 30 and still a bargain if healthy.
2. Freddie Freeman
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Position: first base
Career: 11 seasons (2010-present)
Teams: Atlanta Braves (2010-present)
Current contract: eight years, $135 million
2020 statistics: .341/13/53
Bottom Line: Freddie Freeman
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The 2020 National League Most Valuable Player put up numbers that were easily the best of his career when prorated over a full season. But a $22 million base salary doesn’t do justice to his ridiculous .462 on-base and .640 slugging percentages.
It appears that any contract extension will have to wait until after the 2021 season, however, when he can become an unrestricted free agent.
1. Juan Soto
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Position: outfield
Career: three seasons (2018-present)
Teams: Washington Nationals (2018-present)
Current contract: one year, $8.5 million
2020 statistics: .351/13/37
Bottom Line: Juan Soto
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Here’s Exhibit A why the current salary system is broken and needs to be fixed. His salary is nearly double the $4.4 million average league-wide, but it’s not commensurate to his recent production. Not even close.
The 22-year-old may get his fair share eventually — he’ll be a free agent after the 2025 season — but it’s likely to be for less production, not more.