Gary Carter Reportedly Highest Paid in Majors

New York Mets catcher Gary Carter, who hit .222 (6 for 27) in the National League playoff loss to the Dodgers, was baseball’s highest-paid player this season with earnings of $2,360,714, according to a survey by USA Today.

Carter’s income included $200,000 in bonuses, and he was 1 of 11 major leaguers to earn $2 million or more. Seventy-one players earned at least $1 million.

St. Louis shortstop Ozzie Smith was No. 2 on the list with earnings of $2,340,000. Philadelphia third baseman Mike Schmidt was third at $2,250,000, of which $100,000 was donated in his name to charity.

Others members of the $2-million club were Jim Rice of Boston, $2,214,865; Eddie Murray of Baltimore, $2,142,904; George Brett of Kansas City, $2,138,661; Rick Sutcliffe of the Chicago Cubs, $2,070,000; Fernando Valenzuela of the Dodgers, $2,050,000; Dale Murphy of Atlanta, $2 million; Don Mattingly of the New York Yankees, $2 million, and Jack Clark of the Yankees, $2 million.

According to the survey, pitcher Mike Witt was the highest-paid Angel at $1,400,000. The Angels’ Tony Armas had a base salary of $100,000 but earned more than three times that ($325,000) in bonuses.