Baseball money isn’t just big—it’s staggering. Contracts are soaring to astronomical levels, signing bonuses look like small economies, and endorsement deals are equally jaw-dropping. Let’s just say some players could practically buy their own teams if they wanted it. At the top of this cash-fueled madness sit two absolute juggernauts: Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani. The numbers? Outrageous. The rankings? Let’s dive in.

Forbes just released the list of top-earning baseball players, and it’s absolutely star-studded. And it’s packed with the names of players like Aaron Judge, Blake Snell, and Mike Trout. But the real standouts are Ohtani and Soto—players who earn more than some of these stars combined.

Soto and Ohtani are two of the highest-paid players in baseball, earning $126.9 million and $102 million, respectively. The New York Mets’ star earnings primarily come from his contract and the signing bonus attached to it. He will make approximately $46 million annually until 2038, along with the incentives that will earn him extra based on where he ends up on the MVP ranking board.

All this makes him the highest-paid baseball player in history, although his off-field endorsement earnings remain modest. His partnerships with the Celsius energy drink, Banreservas Bank, and the Presidente Beer in around $5 million from endorsements annually.

It is exactly the opposite of what Ohtani earns. While Ohtani does earn $102 million, most of his income comes from brand endorsements. While negotiating his contract with the Dodgers, he ensured that 97% of the contract’s value was deferred.

As a result, the present-day value of the contract is quite low, with Ohtani earning just $2 million per year from 2024 to 2033. However, after that, from 2034-2043, he will earn $68 million annually. Sticking to the current situation, Ohtani makes $2 million from his contract and an impression $100 million from endorsements. Major brands like New Balance, Beats by Dr. Dre, and Fanatics have partnered with him.

Not just those, but Japanese brands like Kosei Skincare and Koa Pharmaceuticals have been investing heavily in Ohtani. These two MLB stars may be at the top of their game, but the way they are earning their dollars is completely opposite to each other.

Baseball’s money game isn’t just booming—it’s practically printing cash. Soto cashes in on the richest contract in MLB history, while Ohtani rewrites the playbook by turning endorsements into an empire. One earns his millions now, the other stacks his billions later. Either way, these two aren’t just playing baseball—they’re playing the economy.

Shohei Ohtani shows his value off-field after his dynasty card sells for over $1 million

Shohei Ohtani isn’t just rewriting record books on the field—he’s making history in the collectibles market too. In an era where sports cards are the new stock market, Ohtani’s latest sale places him in elite company alongside Michael Jordan and Paul Skenes. Forget contracts and endorsements—this is proof that greatness prints money.

If you thought that Ohtani was only breaking records on the field, you couldn’t be more wrong. His 2024 Topps Dynasty Black 1/1 Relic “50/50” card recently sold for a whopping $1.06 million. Heritage Auctions Sports reports, “Last night, Shohei Ohtani’s 2024 Topps Dynasty Black 1/1 Relic ’50/50′ sold for $1,067,500, a record price for any Ohtani card.” With this sale, Ohtani became the first Dodgers player to have a card sell for over a million dollars.

The card features an MLB patch from his game-worn pants, authenticated by the MLB. It also includes a gold permanent marker autograph from Ohtani himself. This highlights his immense value and the recognition he brings to baseball. As his market value continues to skyrocket, the value of his cards and memorabilia follows suit, with fans eager to cash in on it.

As Ohtani’s legacy grows, so does the price tag on anything associated with him. At this rate, his autograph might soon be worth more than some franchises. Whether it’s home runs or historic auctions, one thing is clear—Ohtani isn’t just playing the game, he’s running the economy of baseball collectibles.