Can money buy a World Series championship?
Critics of Major League Baseball might feel that way, especially with the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to defend a title they won last year after signing superstar Shohei Ohtani to a then-record $700 million free-agent contract.
But flexing financial muscle is only part of the equation. Drafting, scouting, player development, leadership and team chemistry all play significant roles as well. Otherwise, the top-spending teams would always make it to the World Series. (Just ask the Mets how their spending has worked out.)
But above everything else, the players are still the biggest factor. Here are the highest-paid players on each team in this year's World Series.
The salary figures below represent the present-day value of contracts – including deferrals and signing bonuses – as of opening day 2025.
