1. Clayton Kershaw, $32.8 million
Kershaw, 28, is the most highly paid player in baseball and, unlike with some other players in this list, it can be argued that his performance and that of his team justify the expense.
He is a left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who paid him $32 million in 2016.
Kershaw is a six-time All-Star who led the National League in strikeouts in 2011, 2013 and 2015, and who was named National League MVP in 2014.
In 16 regular season starts this year, Kershaw recorded 12 wins and 4 losses and an ERA of 1.69. In the 2016 postseason, he has a record of 2-0. Kershaw has earned $1.8 million thus far per regular and postseason start and $2.3 million per win.
The Dodgers won 91 games on their way to winning first place in the National League West. The team has continued its run into the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs. The teams were tied 2-2 in the best-of-seven series as of Thursday. Kershaw earned $351,000 for every Dodgers win in 2016.