The Cleveland Guardians are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team from Cleveland, Ohio. They play in the American League Central. This article uses current salary data checked online and is accurate as of December 19, 2025.
Cleveland Guardians Highest paid player — José Ramírez
The highest paid player on the Cleveland Guardians is José Ramírez, the team’s third baseman. In 2025 his salary (the amount he is paid by the team this year) is about $20 million per year under the long-term contract he signed with Cleveland. This makes him the club’s top earner for the season.

José Ramírez is a veteran hitter known for power and speed. He signed a multi-year deal that pays him high annual money, which is why he is the Guardians’ highest paid player. He is a key leader on the team and one of the highest-paid third basemen in MLB.
José Ramírez — Net worth

Public estimates put José Ramírez’s net worth in the multi-million dollar range because of his salary and career earnings. News and financial summaries list his career contract value around $141 million guaranteed, and his estimated personal net worth is reported by some outlets in the several millions range. Net worth estimates vary by source.
Salaries for the 2025 Cleveland Guardians
This small table shows several Guardians and their 2025 salaries. Figures come from public payroll trackers and contract summaries.
| Player | Position | 2025 Salary (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| José Ramírez | 3B | $20,000,000 (≈ $20.14M AAV on his deal) |
| Tanner Bibee | SP | $5,000,000 |
| Jake Junis | RP | $4,500,000 |
| Steven Kwan | OF | $4,175,000 |
| Bo Naylor | C | $790,300 |
| Cade Smith | RP | $785,100 |
| Luis Ortiz | RP | $782,600 |
| David Fry | 1B | $781,900 |
| Gavin Williams | SP/RP | $780,300 |
| Hunter Gaddis | RP | $778,900 |
| Tim Herrin | RP | $777,300 |
| Logan Allen | SP | $777,200 |
| Brayan Rocchio | SS | $771,000 |
| Gabriel Arias | INF | $770,200 |
| Will Brennan | OF | $770,000 |
| Nolan Jones | OF | $770,000 |
| Daniel Schneemann | INF | $766,000 |
| Jhonkensy Noel | INF | $766,900 |
| Slade Cecconi | RP | $765,500 |
| Erik Sabrowski | LHP | $764,700 |
| Kyle Manzardo | 1B | $763,200 |
| Joey Cantillo | LHP | $762,800 |
| Nic Enright | RP | $760,000 |
| Parker Messick | LHP | $760,000 |
| Other pre-arbitration players (group) | — | approx $760,000+ combined |
Sources: payroll and contract pages (Spotrac, FanGraphs roster/payroll summaries, team contract trackers). Exact yearly pay can differ slightly by reporting site.
FAQs
Q: Is José Ramírez still under contract with the Guardians?
A: Yes. He is under a multi-year contract that keeps him with Cleveland through the middle/late 2020s.
Q: Does “highest paid” mean highest net worth?
A: Not always. Highest paid means the largest salary from the team in that season. Net worth includes all earnings, investments, and expenses and can be different from yearly salary.
Q: Are these salary numbers exact?
A: These numbers are public estimates from payroll trackers and contract reports. They are approximate and rounded for simple reading. Different sites may show slight differences.
Q: Where did you check these numbers?
A: I used reliable public trackers and team contract summaries (Spotrac, FanGraphs, Yahoo Sports/MLB salary lists, etc.). The values here were checked online and reflect the 2025 season data.
José Ramírez is the highest paid player on the Cleveland Guardians for 2025, earning roughly $20 million that season under his long-term deal. The rest of the roster includes lower salaries, with a few younger players on rising contracts. All figures here were checked against public payroll sources dated up to December 19, 2025.