Major League Baseball players receive additional rewards of up to $100,000 if they are selected for the All-Star team.
In the ongoing MLB All-Star Week in Atlanta, one of the most intriguing contract stories revolves around Seattle Mariners' star Julio Rodríguez. Rodríguez's contract, which runs from 2023 to 2034, includes a unique player option that could significantly escalate his salary based on his performance and key awards.
The player option comes into play if the Mariners do not pick up his team option after the 2028 season. At that point, Rodríguez would have a five-year player option with an average annual value (AAV) of $18 million. This option also includes performance-based escalators that could increase his salary up to $25 million annually.
Rodríguez's salary escalations are tied to his achievements such as his MVP finishes. For example, having two top-10 MVP finishes secures his salary jumping to $25 million in 2030, assuming the Mariners pick up their option after 2028. While the specific mention of All-Star selections or Silver Slugger Awards as conditions for the player option is not explicitly detailed, given that MVP finishes are used as performance milestones, it is reasonable to infer that major awards and honors like All-Star appearances and Silver Slugger Awards could be among the performance metrics that contribute to these salary escalators.
Rodríguez has already proven his worth, having been voted into the All-Star Game three times in four seasons, despite choosing to skip the 2025 All-Star Game to rest.
Elsewhere in the league, several other players are set to receive bonuses for their All-Star selections. Notably, Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta will receive a $100,000 bonus for making his second All-Star appearance. He leads the National League with 10 wins and has a 2.74 ERA over 19 starts.
Meanwhile, Mets closer Edwin Diáz was selected for the All-Star Team and will receive a $50,000 bonus for his third All-Star selection. Diáz has a 1.66 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 38 innings.
In the American League, Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez was voted as the starter but opted out of the game. Ramírez is batting .297/.367/.510 with 18 home runs and 29 stolen bases.
Francisco Lindor, who was elected as the starting shortstop for the National League, is making his first All-Star appearance since 2019. Interestingly, Lindor was not chosen for the All-Star Team last season, despite finishing as the runner-up in the MVP race.
Finally, Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom, one of the oldest All-Stars at 37, will receive a $100,000 bonus for making his fifth All-Star Team.
Six of the 81 All-Stars will receive contract bonuses, totaling $425,000. The value of these bonuses, while significant, pales in comparison to the potential salary escalations Rodríguez could see if he continues to perform at his current level and meets the conditions of his unique player option.
In the MLB All-Star Week, besides Julio Rodríguez who stands to gain potentially higher salaries due to his player option, other players will also receive bonuses for their All-Star selections. For instance, Milwaukee Brewers' Freddy Peralta is set to earn a $100,000 bonus for his second All-Star appearance, while Mets' Edwin Diaz will receive a $50,000 bonus for his third All-Star selection.
