MLB · CLUB · 9 OF 30
St. Louis Cardinals career earnings
$1,716,670,623 across 96 careers, led by Albert Pujols on $341,710,741.
Every man on the roster, ranked by what his contracts have been worth across his whole career rather than by what this club is paying him now. It comes to 4.0% of the money in the MLB file.
CAREER MONEY $1.72bn
PER CAREER $17.9m
CAREERS 96
SHARE OF LEAGUE 4.0%
RANK 9 of 30
St. Louis Cardinals at a glance
What the roster has been paid
- Career money
- $1,716,670,623
- Careers
- 96
- Per career
- $17,881,986
- Paid through 2024
- $1,618,670,623
- Still to be paid
- $98,000,000
- Rank
- 9 of 30 clubs
The fifteen richest St. Louis Cardinals careers
Total contract money, 1999 to 2033
Every St. Louis Cardinals career
Ranked by total contract money
| # | Player | Position | Seasons | Span | Still owed | Career earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Albert Pujols | Designated Hitter | 23 | 1999 to 2022 | - | $341,710,741$341.7m |
| 02 | Adam Wainwright Paid in 2024 | Starting Pitcher | 30 | 2000 to 2033 | $9.0m | $191,996,592$192.0m |
| 03 | Yadier Molina | Catcher | 19 | 2000 to 2022 | - | $163,373,380$163.4m |
| 04 | Paul Goldschmidt Paid in 2024 | 1st Base | 15 | 2009 to 2024 | - | $163,158,606$163.2m |
| 05 | Miles Mikolas Paid in 2024 | Starting Pitcher | 12 | 2009 to 2025 | $16.0m | $114,257,656$114.3m |
| 06 | Willson Contreras Paid in 2024 | Catcher | 14 | 2009 to 2028 | $59.5m | $108,424,151$108.4m |
| 07 | Dexter Fowler | 14 | 2004 to 2021 | - | $106,976,370$107.0m | |
| 08 | Andrew Miller | St. Louis Cardinals | 16 | 2006 to 2021 | - | $78,004,603$78.0m |
| 09 | Matt Wieters | St. Louis Cardinals | 13 | 2009 to 2021 | - | $62,174,958$62.2m |
| 10 | Steven Matz Paid in 2024 | Starting Pitcher | 12 | 2009 to 2025 | $12.0m | $56,538,438$56.5m |
| 11 | Carlos Martinez | Starting Pitcher | 11 | 2010 to 2022 | - | $46,974,569$47.0m |
| 12 | Paul DeJong Paid in 2024 | Shortstop | 10 | 2015 to 2025 | $1000k | $26,615,085$26.6m |
| 13 | Jordan Montgomery | Starting Pitcher | 8 | 2014 to 2023 | - | $20,424,671$20.4m |
| 14 | Jack Flaherty | Starting Pitcher | 8 | 2014 to 2023 | - | $17,610,242$17.6m |
| 15 | Giovanny Gallegos Paid in 2024 | Relief Pitcher | 9 | 2017 to 2025 | $500k | $14,985,829$15.0m |
| 16 | Harrison Bader | Center Field | 8 | 2015 to 2023 | - | $14,166,913$14.2m |
| 17 | Austin Romine | Catcher | 13 | 2007 to 2022 | - | $10,659,484$10.7m |
| 18 | Tyler O'Neill | Left Field | 7 | 2013 to 2023 | - | $10,497,160$10.5m |
| 19 | Chris Stratton | Relief Pitcher | 9 | 2012 to 2023 | - | $10,000,112$10.0m |
| 20 | Zach McAllister | Relief Pitcher | 10 | 2006 to 2019 | - | $8,626,605$8.6m |
| 21 | Wade LeBlanc | St. Louis Cardinals | 12 | 2006 to 2021 | - | $8,608,762$8.6m |
| 22 | Roberto Baldoquin | 2nd Base | 1 | 2015 | - | $8,000,000$8.0m |
| 23 | Dakota Hudson | Relief Pitcher | 7 | 2016 to 2023 | - | $7,263,180$7.3m |
| 24 | Drew VerHagen | Relief Pitcher | 9 | 2012 to 2023 | - | $7,198,542$7.2m |
| 25 | Tommy Edman | Shortstop | 6 | 2016 to 2023 | - | $6,310,957$6.3m |
| 26 | Kwang-hyun Kim | Starting Pitcher | 2 | 2020 to 2021 | - | $5,481,481$5.5m |
| 27 | Cory Spangenberg | 2nd Base | 8 | 2011 to 2022 | - | $5,464,810$5.5m |
| 28 | Jordan Hicks | Relief Pitcher | 6 | 2015 to 2023 | - | $5,337,500$5.3m |
| 29 | Nolan Gorman | 3rd Base | 3 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $4,427,862$4.4m |
| 30 | John Gant | Starting Pitcher | 7 | 2011 to 2021 | - | $4,227,334$4.2m |
| 31 | Matthew Liberatore | Starting Pitcher | 3 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $4,123,977$4.1m |
| 32 | Ryan Helsley | Relief Pitcher | 5 | 2019 to 2023 | - | $3,975,827$4.0m |
| 33 | Dylan Carlson | Center Field | 5 | 2016 to 2023 | - | $3,512,675$3.5m |
| 34 | Jake Woodford | Starting Pitcher | 5 | 2015 to 2023 | - | $3,504,792$3.5m |
| 35 | Zack Thompson | Relief Pitcher | 3 | 2019 to 2023 | - | $3,501,748$3.5m |
| 36 | Jordan Walker | 3rd Base | 2 | 2020 to 2023 | - | $3,476,779$3.5m |
| 37 | Oscar Mercado | Outfielders | 6 | 2013 to 2023 | - | $3,256,884$3.3m |
| 38 | Andrew Knizner | Catcher | 6 | 2016 to 2023 | - | $2,934,577$2.9m |
| 39 | Michael McGreevy | Pitchers | 1 | 2021 | - | $2,750,000$2.8m |
| 40 | JoJo Romero | Relief Pitcher | 5 | 2016 to 2023 | - | $2,503,735$2.5m |
| 41 | Genesis Cabrera | Relief Pitcher | 6 | 2013 to 2023 | - | $2,444,462$2.4m |
| 42 | Kyle Ryan | Relief Pitcher | 8 | 2010 to 2021 | - | $2,430,949$2.4m |
| 43 | T.J. Zeuch | Starting Pitcher | 4 | 2016 to 2021 | - | $2,386,181$2.4m |
| 44 | Joshua Baez | Outfielders | 1 | 2021 | - | $2,250,000$2.3m |
| 45 | Delvin Perez | Shortstop | 1 | 2016 | - | $2,222,500$2.2m |
| 46 | Masyn Winn | Shortstop | 1 | 2020 | - | $2,100,000$2.1m |
| 47 | Tyler Webb | St. Louis Cardinals | 6 | 2013 to 2021 | - | $2,094,956$2.1m |
| 48 | Andre Pallante | Relief Pitcher | 3 | 2019 to 2023 | - | $1,801,905$1.8m |
| 49 | Lars Nootbaar | Center Field | 4 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $1,684,787$1.7m |
| 50 | Juan Yepez | 3rd Base | 3 | 2014 to 2023 | - | $1,662,687$1.7m |
| 51 | Anthony Misiewicz | Relief Pitcher | 5 | 2015 to 2023 | - | $1,636,799$1.6m |
| 52 | Max Moroff | 2nd Base | 6 | 2010 to 2021 | - | $1,572,785$1.6m |
| 53 | Brendan Donovan | 2nd Base | 3 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $1,559,644$1.6m |
| 54 | Alec Burleson | Right Field | 3 | 2020 to 2023 | - | $1,529,138$1.5m |
| 55 | Trejyn Fletcher | Center Field | 1 | 2019 | - | $1,500,000$1.5m |
| 56 | Jose Rondon | 2nd Base | 5 | 2011 to 2021 | - | $1,474,070$1.5m |
| 57 | Packy Naughton | Relief Pitcher | 4 | 2017 to 2023 | - | $1,432,941$1.4m |
| 58 | Wilking Rodriguez | Relief Pitcher | 2 | 2015 to 2023 | - | $1,227,900 |
| 59 | Daniel Poncedeleon | St. Louis Cardinals | 4 | 2018 to 2021 | - | $1,131,970 |
| 60 | Tink Hence | Pitchers | 1 | 2020 | - | $1,115,000 |
| 61 | Austin Dean | Left Field | 5 | 2012 to 2021 | - | $1,077,597 |
| 62 | Aaron Brooks | Starting Pitcher | 5 | 2011 to 2019 | - | $1,074,857 |
| 63 | Junior Fernandez | Starting Pitcher | 4 | 2019 to 2022 | - | $1,005,545 |
| 64 | Alec Willis | Pitchers | 1 | 2021 | - | $1,000,000 |
| 65 | Ryan Holgate | Outfielders | 1 | 2021 | - | $875,000 |
| 66 | Luken Baker | 1st Base | 2 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $858,065 |
| 67 | Ali Sanchez | Catcher | 3 | 2013 to 2021 | - | $804,199 |
| 68 | Tres Barrera | Catcher | 4 | 2016 to 2022 | - | $800,776 |
| 69 | Ian Bedell | Pitchers | 1 | 2020 | - | $800,000 |
| 70 | Luis Mario Pino | Outfielders | 1 | 2021 | - | $767,000 |
| 71 | Freddy Pacheco | Relief Pitcher | 1 | 2023 | - | $720,000 |
| 72 | Ljay Newsome | Starting Pitcher | 2 | 2020 to 2021 | - | $686,053 |
| 73 | Austin Love | Pitchers | 1 | 2021 | - | $600,000 |
| 74 | Jeremy Rivas | Shortstop | 1 | 2019 | - | $600,000 |
| 75 | Levi Prater | Pitchers | 1 | 2020 | - | $575,000 |
| 76 | Kodi Whitley | Relief Pitcher | 2 | 2020 to 2021 | - | $555,274 |
| 77 | Brandon Waddell | Pitchers | 3 | 2015 to 2021 | - | $552,263 |
| 78 | Edwin Nunez | Starting Pitcher | 1 | 2020 | - | $525,000 |
| 79 | James Naile | Relief Pitcher | 2 | 2022 to 2023 | - | $514,143 |
| 80 | Jose Fermin | 2nd Base | 1 | 2015 | - | $500,000 |
| 81 | Scott Hurst | Center Field | 2 | 2017 to 2021 | - | $486,804 |
| 82 | Kramer Robertson | Shortstop | 2 | 2017 to 2022 | - | $403,836 |
| 83 | Connor Thomas | Pitchers | 1 | 2019 | - | $340,000 |
| 84 | Nick Dunn | 2nd Base | 1 | 2018 | - | $310,000 |
| 85 | Ivan Herrera | Catcher | 3 | 2016 to 2023 | - | $300,021 |
| 86 | Malcom Nunez | 3rd Base | 1 | 2018 | - | $300,000 |
| 87 | Garrett Williams | Pitchers | 1 | 2016 | - | $250,000 |
| 88 | Roel Ramirez | Pitchers | 3 | 2013 to 2021 | - | $223,777 |
| 89 | Guillermo Zuniga | Pitchers | 2 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $220,484 |
| 90 | Patrick Romeri | Right Field | 1 | 2019 | - | $200,000 |
| 91 | Evan Mendoza | Pitchers | 1 | 2017 | - | $150,000 |
| 92 | Jhon Torres | Outfielders | 1 | 2016 | - | $150,000 |
| 93 | Angel Rondon | Pitchers | 3 | 2016 to 2022 | - | $59,516 |
| 94 | Jake Walsh | Relief Pitcher | 1 | 2022 | - | $46,152 |
| 95 | Moises Gomez | Outfielders | 1 | 2015 | - | $40,000 |
| 96 | Chandler Redmond | 2nd Base | 1 | 2019 | - | $3,000 |
St. Louis Cardinals money by season
What these careers were paid, year by year
$34m 11
$37m 12
$59m 13
$81m 14
$104m 15
$112m 16
$113m 17
$158m 18
$153m 19
$78m 20
$188m 21
$139m 22
$145m 23
$81m 24
2021 is the biggest year on this chart at $187,543,263. A roster assembled recently draws a spike rather than a run: the chart follows the men who are here now, wherever they were paid it.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the highest paid St. Louis Cardinals player?
Albert Pujols. His contracts are worth $341,710,741 across 23 seasons from 1999 to 2022.
What have St. Louis Cardinals players earned in total?
$1,716,670,623 across 96 careers, an average of $17,881,986 each. That is 4.0% of every dollar in the MLB file.
How does that rank?
St. Louis Cardinals is 9 of 30 clubs by total career money, behind Boston Red Sox on $1,750,860,402 and ahead of Los Angeles Angels on $1,715,179,562.
How many are still being paid?
7 of the 96 have a figure against the 2024 season, and $98,000,000 is written into deals that run past it.
Is this the St. Louis Cardinals payroll?
No. It is career money carried by the current roster: everything each man's contracts have been worth across every season, at this club or anywhere else. A payroll is one season and this is every one of them.
The clubs either side
The same table, 16 other clubs
San Diego Padres · Los Angeles Dodgers · New York Mets · Atlanta Braves · Philadelphia Phillies · Washington Nationals · Colorado Rockies · Boston Red Sox · Los Angeles Angels · New York Yankees · Texas Rangers · Toronto Blue Jays · Chicago Cubs · Milwaukee Brewers · Kansas City Royals · Chicago White Sox · All-time MLB earnings
Where to next
The seasons, the clubs and the rest of the league
Every season
Every club
- San Diego Padres career earnings
- Los Angeles Dodgers career earnings
- New York Mets career earnings
- Atlanta Braves career earnings
- Philadelphia Phillies career earnings
- Washington Nationals career earnings
- Colorado Rockies career earnings
- Boston Red Sox career earnings
- Los Angeles Angels career earnings
- New York Yankees career earnings
- Texas Rangers career earnings
- Toronto Blue Jays career earnings
- Chicago Cubs career earnings
- Milwaukee Brewers career earnings
- Kansas City Royals career earnings
- Chicago White Sox career earnings
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