Highest-paid MLB designated hitters in 2025

Giancarlo Stanton, not Shohei Ohtani, is the highest-paid designated hitter entering the 2025 major league season.

Ohtani, who agreed to a historic 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2024 season, will average $70 million per year. But because of his heavily deferred deal, he will make much less than that.

Ohtani is deferring $68 million of his $70 million annual salary, lowering his present-day value to $28 million. Stanton, who hasn't played an inning yet this season with the New York Yankees because of an injury, will earn $32 million in 2025.

Ohtani is actually the 18th highest-paid player in baseball as calculated by the MLB Labor Relations Department in…