MLB's 2023 All Star Rosters, Financially

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertJuly 03, 2023
© USA TODAY Sports

The American League starting roster is dominated by high paid veterans, with a starting 9 lineup accounting for $50M more than the National League. The Pitching staffs are a bit jaded on the surface, as Ohtani is added as a 13th arm because of his unique dual-position status. But even when removing his second $30M salary, the AL will carry over $118M more 2023 salary on their starting ASG squad than the young, but talented, National League group.

Notable Notes

  • 6 players are currently slated for free agency this winter
    (Ohtani, Gray, Lorenzen, Hader, Kershaw, Martinez)
  • Another (Stroman) is expected to opt out of his contract
  • 6 National League players are earning $1M or less this season
  • 5 American League players are earning $1M or less this season
AMERICAN LEAGUE STARTERS   NATIONAL LEAGUE STARTERS
Jonah Heim TEX $745,660 C Sean Murphy ATL $4,000,000
Yandy Diaz TB $6,000,000 1B Freddie Freeman LAD $20,000,000
Marcus Semien TEX $26,000,000 2B Luis Arraez MIA $6,100,000
Josh Jung TEX $721,485 3B Nolan Arenado STL $35,000,000
Corey Seager TEX $35,500,000 SS Orlando Arcia ATL $2,300,000
Randy Arozarena TB $4,150,000 OF Ronald Acuna Jr. ATL $17,000,000
Mike Trout LAA $35,450,000 OF Corbin Carroll ARI $6,000,000
Aaron Judge NYY $40,000,000 OF Mookie Betts LAD $25,000,000
Shohei Ohtani LAA $30,000,000 DH J.D. Martinez LAD $10,000,000
Shohei Ohtani LAA $30,000,000 SP Zac Gallen ARI $5,600,000
Gerrit Cole NYY $36,000,000 SP Spencer Strider ATL $1,000,000
Luis Castillo SEA $17,000,000 SP Bryce Elder ATL $720,000
Sonny Gray MIN $12,700,000 SP Justin Steele CHC $740,000
Nathan Eovaldi TEX $18,000,000 SP Mitch Keller PIT $2,437,500
Kevin Gausman TOR $21,000,000 SP Josiah Gray WSH $730,000
Shane McClanahan TB $737,000 SP Clayton Kershaw LAD $20,000,000
Framber Valdez HOU $6,800,000 SP Marcus Stroman CHC $25,000,000
Michael Lorenzen DET $8,500,000 SP      
Kenley Jansen BOS $16,000,000 RP Alexis Diaz CIN $730,000
Emmanuel Clase CLE $1,500,000 RP Josh Hader SD $14,100,000
Felix Bautista BAL $731,800 RP Devin Williams MIL $3,350,000
Yennier Cano BAL $720,000 RP Camilo Doval SF $750,000
AL BATTERS: $178,567,145   $125,400,000 NL BATTERS:
AL PITCHERS: $169,688,800   $75,157,500 NL PITCHERS:
AL TOTAL: $348,255,945   $200,557,500 NL TOTAL:

AL Player Contract Statuses

The selected American League starting lineup & pitching staff contains 5 Texas Rangers, 3 Tampa Bay Rays, & 2 Shohei Ohtanis. 7 of these players have been selected to their first All Star Game, while Mike Trout will be appearing for the 11th time. 

Catcher: Jonah Heim (TEX), $745,660

Selection: 1st
Heim will become arbitration-eligible for the first time after 2023, putting himself on track for free agency in 2027, when he’ll be approaching 32 years of age.

1st Base: Yandy Diaz (TB), $6,000,000

Selection: 1st
Diaz signed a 3 year, $24M extension prior to the season, buying out his final two arbitration seasons and one free agency year. There’s a $12M club option in 2026 that seems unlikely based on Tampa Bay’s track record.

2nd Base: Marcus Semien (TEX), $26,000,000

Selection: 2nd
Semien is in Year 2 of a 7 year, $175M free agent contract in Texas, and by all accords, has held up his side of the deal thus far (combined 8.8 WAR in a season and a half). He’s locked in through 2028.

3rd Base: Josh Jung (TEX), $721,485

Selection: 1st
The #8 overall selection back in 2019 has found immediate success at the hot corner in Texas, There’s 5 more years of team control ahead of him through 2029.

Shortstop: Corey Seager (TEX), $35,500,000

Selection: 4th
Year 2 of a 10 year, $325M blockbuster free agent contract has seen Seager mightily increase his efficiency. The 29-year-old has nearly matched last year’s doubles total at the half turn, and his current .345 batting average is 100 points higher than 2022’s end game. There’s a fully guaranteed $252.5M left through 2031 here.

Outfield: Randy Arozarena (TB), $4,150,000

Selection: 1st
After what can now be considered a bit of a regression last season, Arozarena has bounced right back into top form this year, currently on pace for career numbers across the board. He’s playing out an Arbitration 1 salary this year, but free agency won’t be available until the 2027 season when he’ll be 32 years old. Look for a Rays-style extension at some point soon here.

Outfield: Mike Trout (LAA), $35,450,000

Selection: 11th
That other Angels’ superstar is on pace for another 30 double, 40 homer, 80 RBI season in LA. His $426.5M contract holds $248.15M remaining through 2030.

Outfield: Aaron Judge (NYY), $40,000,000

Selection: 5th
Judge was off to a lightning start until a toe injury derailed his 2023 campaign. His historic free agent contract carries $320M remaining over the next 8 seasons.

Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani (LAA), $30,000,000

Selection: 3rd
No words really necessary here. Ohtani is doing Ohtani things at the highest level, carrying a (ridiculous) 6.5 combined WAR into the midpoint of the season. An exciting free agency awaits.

Starting Pitcher: Shohei Ohtani (LAA), $30,000,000

Selection: 3rd
For the 3rd time, Ohtani has been elected as both a Designated Hitter & a Pitcher. The pending free agent carries a 3.02 ERA/1.04 WHIP into midseason, and is on pace for another 200+ strikeout campaign.

Starting Pitcher: Gerrit Cole (NYY), $36,000,000

Selection: 6th
The walks are up a bit this year, but everything else about Cole’s 2023 has been as advertised and then some. He’ll enter midseason as one of the Cy Young favorites in the American League.Contractually, Cole has 5 years, $180M still ahead of him, but there’s a player opt-out available after 2024. The Yankees can eliminate that opt-out with an additional 1 year, $36M tacked onto the backend of this deal.

Starting Pitcher: Luis Castillo (SEA), $17,000,000

Selection: 3rd
The lone Seattle All Star selection has been fantastic since joining the Mariners last July, making good thus far on his $108M extension. The 30-year-old holds at least another $91M on this contract through 2027 with an option & bonuses in addition. He picks up a $25,000 bonus for the All-Star berth.

Starting Pitcher: Sonny Gray (MIN), $12,700,000

Selection: 3rd
Gray has resurrected his career (again) since joining Minnesota in March of 2022 making the decision on his $12.7M club option this past winter an easy one for the Twins. The almost 34 year old is slated for free agency again this November, but should be considered an extension candidate for now.

Starting Pitcher: Nathan Eovaldi (TEX), $18,000,000

Selection: 2nd
The last time Nathan Eovaldi finished a season with a sub-3 ERA and a sub-1 WHIP was never. He’s on pace to do both in 2023, with career highs in strikeouts and WAR easily achievable as well. There’s a 1 year, $18M guarantee remaining on his contract, with a vesting option possible in 2025. Eovaldi bags a $100,000 bonus for his All Star selection.

Starting Pitcher: Kevin Gausman (TOR), $21,000,000

Selection: 2nd
Gausman leads the American League in strikeouts heading toward the break, and is flirting with a sub 3 ERA early in July. His big free agent contract holds 3 years, $70M remaining on it through 2026, fully guaranteed.

Starting Pitcher: Shane McClanahan (TB), $737,000

Selection: 2nd
Despite recent injury issues (and a current IL stint), McClanahan leads the league in Wins (11) heading toward the break. Everything about this season has been on pace for career bests, and he’s slated to start a 4 year arbitration stint this winter with the Rays. 

Starting Pitcher: Framber Valdez (HOU), $6,800,000

Selection: 2nd
Valdez is the current odds on favorite to win AL Cy Young, and it’s pretty easy to see why (2.49 ERA, 1.048 WHIP, 3.1 WAR, 110 Ks). The 29 year old is playing out Year 2 of 4 arbitration eligible seasons, making him one of the best financial values in all of baseball.

Starting Pitcher: Michael Lorenzen (DET), $8,500,000

Selection: 1st
Lorezen thought he was being traded when he was brought into Tigers’ offices to be notified of his selection. In fairness, he’ll almost certainly be traded a few weeks after the festivities, but for now he remains one of the best things Detroit has going in 2023. His 1 year, $8.5M contract will hold about $2.8M remaining at the deadline.

Relief Pitcher: Kenley Jansen (BOS), $16,000,000

Selection: 4th
The 35 year old further bolstered his Hall of Fame resume with his 4th All Star selection, the only member of the Boston Red Sox to earn one. His 2 year contract holds 1 year, $16M remaining through 2024.

Relief Pitcher: Emmanuel Clase (CLE), $1,500,000

Selection: 2nd
The Guardians got a taste of Clase’s talent in 2021 and didn’t let him take the field for them again without a multi-year contract extension in hand. He posted 42 saves in 2022, and carries 24 toward the break thus far in 2023. Clase is guaranteed $15M more over the next 3 seasons, with a chance to haul in $33M total over 5 if options are picked up. He’ll earn a $100,000 bonus for this All Star selection.

Relief Pitcher: Felix Bautista (BAL), $731,800

Selection: 1st
Bautista has been absolutely lights out for the O’s in 2023, nearly doubling the production from his outstanding rookie campaign in Baltimore. The 28 year old still has 5 years of team control ahead of him, so a tempered extension could very well be in his future.

Relief Pitcher: Yennier Cano (BAL), $720,000

Selection: 1st
Bautista’s 8th inning setup reliever shares a similar path to MLB, and similar production in 2023. This is one of the best 1-2 punches in the game right now, and it’s only costing the Orioles $1.45M this season.

National League

The selected National League starting lineup & pitching staff contains 5 Atlanta Braves & 4 LA Dodgers. 11 of these players have been selected to their first All Star Game, while Clayton Kershaw will be appearing for the 10th time. 

Catcher: Sean Murphy (ATL), $4,000,000

Selection: 1st
No surprise here, but the move from Oakland to Atlanta only improved an already solid Sean Murphy resume. He’s on pace for career numbers across the board in Year 1 of a 6 year, $73M contract.

1st Base: Freddie Freeman (LAD), $20,000,000

Selection: 7th
So much for regression. A healthy Freeman can make 2023 his most productive season in 5 years. Good news for LA, as his contract holds 4 years, $108M remaining.

2nd Base: Luis Arraez (MIA), $6,100,000

Selection: 2nd
Arraez is hovering around .400 and his Marlins are 14 games over .500. Your call on which of those is more amazing heading into July. The 26 year old is in Year 2 of 4 arbitration seasons, setting up a 2026 free agency stint.

3rd Base: Nolan Arenado (STL), $35,000,000

Selection: 8th
The Cardinals have fallen into the basement standings-wise, but Arenado is on pace for another 30 homer, 100 RBI campaign. Including deferred payments, St. Louis owes the 32 year old $106M across 4 more seasons.

Shortstop: Orlando Arcia (ATL), $2,300,000

Selection: 1st
The Braves chose to let Dansby Swanson walk last winter, and despite having plenty of outside options to replace him with, opted to let Arcia take the reins. He’s on pace for a career year across the board, making his 3 year, $7.3M extension this March an immediate value play for Atlanta (what else is new).

Outfield: Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL), $17,000,000

Selection: 4th
Health has been the only thing stopping Acuna Jr. from consistently sitting atop the National League MVP conversation on a regular basis. He’s there now (comfortably), making the $85M owed to him from 2024-2028 veritable highway robbery. Ohtani likely earns that over the next two seasons.

Outfield: Corbin Carroll (ARI), $6,000,000

Selection: 1st
As. Advertised: 20 doubles, 17 homers, 24 stolen bases and a 3.8 WAR at the half turn. There’s a minimum of $128M to be made on his contract through 2031 (more with escalators), when Carroll will be just 30 years old.

Outfield: Mookie Betts (LAD), $25,000,000

Selection: 7th
Nothing new to see here, Mookie has been Mookie for a long time now, and he remains a versatile, highly productive, MVP candidate at age 30. Including deferred payments through 2044, the monster contract still has $319M remaining on it.

Designated Hitter: J.D. Martinez (LAD), $10,000,000

Selection: 6th
Martinez is just 2 years removed from his latest (nearly) 30 homer, 100 RBI campaign, and a healthy final 3 months should get him there again in 2023. He signed a 1 year, $10M contract to join the Dodgers this year, but any thoughts about returning could be sideswiped by a certain free agent designated hitter/starting pitcher down the road.

Starting Pitcher: Zac Gallen (ARI), $5,600,000

Selection: 1st
Gallen heads toward the break as the odds on favorite to win NL Cy Young. Aside from one blip in the radar (2021) Gallen’s career numbers are outstanding, and with the Diamondbacks starting to put the pieces together around him, the time to start talking massive contract extension is here. The almost 28 year old holds 2 more years of arbitration ahead of him.

Starting Pitcher: Spencer Strider (ATL), $1,000,000

Selection: 1st
The 24 year old leads the league in Wins (10) and Strikeouts (155) and has put together one of the better first 50 starts to a career that you’ll see. Atlanta locked him in to a 6 year, $75M contract last October, but won’t pay him significant salary until the 2026 season.

Starting Pitcher: Bryce Elder (ATL), $720,000

Selection: 1st
Elder is proving that his 10 game stint last season was no fluke, leading the league in ERA+ (184) at the halfway mark. The 24 year old still has 6 seasons of team control ahead of him, which makes him an immediate candidate to be Atlanta’s next early extension.

Starting Pitcher: Justin Steele (CHC), $740,000

Selection: 1st
Steele has improved every season, and heads into the ASG break the league leader in ERA, FIP, and WHIP. The almost 28 year old will start a 4 year arbitration stint next season, but an extension could very much be in the cards.

Starting Pitcher: Mitch Keller (PIT), $2,437,500

Selection: 1st
Keller is the first Pirates pitcher to be selected to the All Star Game since 2015, almost matching his strikeout total from all of last season at the midway point of 2023. With two more arbitration eligible years ahead of him, Keller should see his salary increase sharply from here out.

Starting Pitcher: Josiah Gray (WSH), $730,000

Selection: 1st
Gray led the league in homers and walks allowed last year, two categories pitchers would like to stay away from. He’s completely turned things around in 2023, nearly doubling his production across the board for Washington, who have him under team control for another 4 seasons.

Starting Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw (LAD), $20,000,000

Selection: 10th
Kershaw’s 10th All Star Game selection might be his most special yet, as the 35 year old enters the midway point with a 10-4 record, 2.55 ERA, 1.049 WHIP, and 105 strikeouts. He’s on pace for his best season since 2017 - if he can stay healthy. Kershaw signed a 1 year, $20M contract to remain in LA this past winter.

Starting Pitcher: Marcus Stroman (CHC), $25,000,000

Selection: 2nd
Something about expiring contracts gets Marcus Stroman a little extra dialed in on the mound. The 32 year old signed a 3 year, $71M free agent contract in Chicago December 2021, but can opt out of the remaining $21M after this coming season. He’s posting a career year across the board, putting the pressure on the Cubs to swing big with any extension offers this summer.

Relief Pitcher: Alexis Diaz (CIN), $730,000

Selection: 1st
Edwin’s younger brother is posting a ridiculous 14.1 strikeouts per 9 rate thus far, accounting for 23 Cincinnati saves at the midway point. There’s 4 year of team control still ahead of him.

Relief Pitcher: Josh Hader (SD), $14,100,000

Selection: 5th
After a rocky finish to 2022, Hader is back in the conversation as one of the best relievers in all of baseball. With San Diego sputtering, a trip to free agency next winter could very well be in his future.

Relief Pitcher: Devin Williams (MIL), $3,350,000

Selection: 2nd
Josh Hader’s former setup man, Williams doesn’t quite have the overpowering strikeout numbers that many closers possess, but he’s been an efficient option for Milwaukee thus far. The almost 29 year old has two more arbitration eligible years ahead of him.

Relief Pitcher: Camilo Doval (SF), $750,000

Selection: 1st
The first Giants reliever to be selected in a decade, Doval leads the league in games finished and saves, carrying a 1.89 ERA into the break. San Francisco still holds 4 years of team control  with the 25 year old.


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