New York Yankees Payroll 2020: Salaries For 5 Highest-Paid NYY Players Next MLB Season

With no World Series appearances in the last decade, the New York Yankees are spending whatever it takes to win another championship. The team made the biggest splash of free agency, giving Gerrit Cole a historic contract and becoming the clear-cut favorites for the 2020 MLB season.

The Yankees began the 2019 season with the third-largest payroll, trailing only the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox. After acquiring Cole, re-signing Brett Gardner and potentially making other additions, New York’s payroll for next season could be north of $240 million.

Here are the five highest-paid players on the Yankees’ roster for next season, based on their 2020 salaries, via Spotrac.

Gerrit Cole: $36 million

The Yankees have made Cole the highest-paid pitcher of all-time in terms of both overall contract value and average annual salary. He’ll make $324 million over the next nine years with no deferred money, even surpassing Mike Trout’s average salary of $35.5 million. Going 35-10 with a 2.68 ERA in the last two seasons, Cole is in the conversation with Jacob deGrom to be considered the best pitcher in baseball.

Giancarlo Stanton: $26 million

The Miami Marlins gave Stanton a then-record 13-year, $325 million contract in November 2014. The outfielder was the 2017 NL MVP with 59 home runs, but injuries have made the deal look shaky, at best. Stanton has averaged 105.6 games over the last five seasons, and a knee injury forced him to miss most of the 2019 ALCS.

Masahiro Tanaka: $23 million

Tanaka is entering the final season of a seven-year, $155 million contract. The veteran has never pitched 200 innings in a season, but his 3.75 career ERA and playoff brilliance have made him worth every penny. Tanaka has a 1.76 ERA in eight playoff starts.

Aroldis Chapman: $17.2 million

It was speculated that Chapman would become a free agent after the 2019 season, choosing to forgo the final two years and $30 million left on his contract. Instead, New York added another year and $18 million to the deal, keeping him under the Yankees’ control through the 2022 season. Chapman has been an All-Star in six of the last eight years with a career 2.23 ERA and 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

J.A. Happ: $17 million

Happ might no longer be on the Yankees’ roster when the 2020 season finally begins. New York had reportedly been looking to trade the left-hander in light of giving Cole so much money. After posting a 4.91 ERA this past season, Happ needs to make 27 starts or pitch 165 innings in order for his $17 million option for 2021 to vest.