Alex Rodriguez's Salary Is More Than Astros' Entire Payroll, and He May Not Even Play This Year

Alex Rodriguez is known for being one of the most talented players in Major League Baseball history, and he’s also known for having the most ridiculous salary in the game.

Throughout the years, stories recognizing both feats have popped up at regular intervals. But this year, while Rodriguez’s injured hip will keep him from ascending the record books, the signs recognizing his crazy contract will just keep coming up.

In the latest assessment of exactly how bonkers Rodriguez’s salary is, a tallying of the league’s payrolls now shows that the $29 million Rodriguez is due this season is more than what the entire Houston Astros roster will make this year, according to The Associated Press.

Rodriguez is by far the highest-paid player, and he outpaces the $25 million the Astros will pay their entire squad. He also rivals the entire payroll of his hometown Miami Marlins, which are shelling out just $40 million this year.

Rodriguez, who is the highest-paid player in MLB for the 13th straight year, isn’t the only player making as much as the Astros. Cliff Lee is due $25 million from the Phillies this year, and just-shelved Johan Santana is earning $24.6 million. Mark Teixeira is nearby, getting $23.1 million, and, like Rodriguez, he is facing an injury that could sideline him for the entire season. Rodriguez is out until at least August and could miss more time as he rehabilitates from hip surgery.

Rodriguez has said he is optimistic about resuming his MLB career, where he would get a chance to pursue some more records. Until then, he’ll just have to settle for being known for his record-breaking salary — and the fact that the Houston Astros are guaranteed to out-perform him on a dollar-by-dollar basis until he can get himself back on the field.