2026 MLB Average Salary Reaches 7.8 Billion Won, All-Time High... Soto Tops List at 91.4 Billion Won

Juan Soto of the New York Mets [AFP=Yonhap News]

The average salary for Major League Baseball (MLB) players in 2026 has reached 7.8 billion won, marking an all-time high.

According to the Associated Press on the 10th (Korean time), the average salary for 942 players on the opening day roster and injured list for the 2026 season was recorded at $5,335,966 (approximately 7.88762 billion won).

This represents a 3.4% increase from the $5,160,245 calculated at the beginning of the 2025 season.

The salary gap between players has widened compared to the 2025 season.

The top 50 players accounted for 30% of the total payroll, and the top 100 players accounted for 49%.

This is a 1 percentage point increase for both categories compared to last season.

The number of players earning over $30 million (over 44.3 billion won) increased by 4 to 19, and the number of players earning over $20 million increased by 66 to 74.

Conversely, the number of players earning over $10 million decreased from 177 to 168.

By team, the New York Mets, home to "1 Trillion Won Man" Juan Soto, ranked first in total payroll for the fourth consecutive year with $352 million.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, winners of two consecutive World Series, came in second with $316.6 million.

The Dodgers were edged out by the Mets in rankings due to deferred payments to nine players, including Shohei Ohtani.

If calculated on an annual average basis without deferred payments, the Dodgers' total payroll would reach $395.2 million.

Following them were the New York Yankees ($292.7 million), Philadelphia Phillies ($282 million), and Toronto Blue Jays ($269 million).

Individually, Soto boasted the highest salary at $61.9 million, which is approximately 91.4 billion won.

Cody Bellinger of the Yankees ranked second with $42.5 million.

Zack Wheeler (Philadelphia) and Bo Bichette (Mets) tied for third place with $42 million each.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto) was fifth with $40.2 million.