While trying to research another blog post I could not find a place that ranked relief pitchers by salary. So, I thought I would fill this void in the internet.

Mariano Rivera tops the list with a salary over 14 million dollars. Last season he pitched 61.1 innings. A high priced closer is a luxury item for only the wealthiest teams and those in contention for the playoffs. Other teams in contention can succeed with closers still under their control and subject to arbitration. 

A non-contending team paying for a premium closer is ludicrous. The San Diego Padres are paying Huston Street 7.5 million dollars for 2012. They are a non-contending team paying a single player a lot of money for 50 to 60 innings of work. There are better places to spend money then on a player who at best will contribute 60 innings of work. Craig Kimbrel last season had the highest WAR of any closer at 3.0. This means the best closer in the league was three wins better than a replacement player. 

A non-contending team with a premium closer at a low salary is a beautiful trade chip. A closer is perfect to flip to another team for promising prospects. Many teams overvalue closers. The Oakland A’s have made a practice of this, most recently trading Andrew Bailey and Huston Street.

Rank  Player 2012

1 Mariano Rivera, NYY       $14,911,700
2 Jonathan Papelbon, Phi    $11,000,058
3 Rafael Soriano, NYY    $11,000,000
4 Jose Valverde, Det    $9,000,000
5 Brian Wilson, SF       $8,500,000
6 Francisco Rodriguez, Mil    $8,000,000
7 Huston Street, SD    $7,500,000
8 Carlos Marmol, ChC    $7,000,000
8 Joe Nathan, Tex    $7,000,000
10 Ryan Madson, Cin    $6,000,000
10 Heath Bell, Mia    $6,000,000
10 Joakim Soria, KC    $6,000,000
13 Kevin Gregg, Bal    $5,800,000
14 Frank Francisco, NYM    $5,500,000
14 Matt Thornton, CWS    $5,500,000
14 Joaquin Benoit, Det    $5,500,000
17 Brandon League, Sea    $5,000,000
17 Scott Downs, LAA    $5,000,000
17 Brian Fuentes, Oak    $5,000,000
20 J.J. Putz, Ari    $4,500,000
20 Matt Capps, Min    $4,500,000
20 Chris Perez, Cle    $4,500,000
20 Francisco Cordero, Tor    $4,500,000
20 Jesse Crain, CWS    $4,500,000
25 Mike Adams, Tex       $4,400,000
26 Joel Hanrahan, Pit    $4,100,000
27 Rafael Betancourt, Col    $4,000,000
27 Grant Balfour, Oak    $4,000,000
27 Darren Oliver, Tor    $4,000,000
27 Jonathan Broxton, KC       $4,000,000
31 Andrew Bailey, Bos    $3,900,000
32 Matt Belisle, Col    $3,775,000
33 Kyle Farnsworth, TB    $3,300,000
34 Sean Marshall, Cin    $3,100,000
35 Koji Uehara, Tex    $3,000,000
36 Jim Johnson, Bal    $2,625,000
37 Eric O’Flaherty, Atl    $2,490,000
38 Carlos Villanueva, Tor SP,    $2,277,500
39 Joel Peralta, TB    $2,175,000
40 Aroldis Chapman, Cin       $2,000,000
41 Jason Motte, StL    $1,950,000
42 Felipe Paulino, KC SP,    $1,900,000
43 Tyler Clippard, Wsh    $1,650,000
44 Edward Mujica, Mia    $1,625,000
45 Daniel Bard, Bos    $1,612,500
46 David Robertson, NYY    $1,600,000
47 Sergio Romo, SF    $1,575,000
48 Luke Gregerson, SD    $1,550,000
48 Glen Perkins, Min    $1,550,000
50 Alfredo Aceves, Bos    $1,200,000
51 Sergio Santos, Tor    $1,000,000
51 Aaron Crow, KC    $1,000,000
53 Evan Meek, Pit    $875,000
54 Craig Kimbrel, Atl    $590,000
55 John Axford, Mil    $525,000
56 Greg Holland, KC    $497,150
57 Louis Coleman, KC    $491,750
58 Neftali Feliz, Tex    $457,160
59 Wilton Lopez, Hou    $442,000
60 Tony Sipp, Cle    $436,800
61 Jonny Venters, Atl    $429,000
62 Chris Sale, CWS    $425,000
63 David Hernandez, Ari    $423,500
64 Mark Melancon, Bos    $421,000
65 Antonio Bastardo, Phi    $419,000
66 Drew Storen, Wsh    $418,000
67 Ernesto Frieri, SD    $417,100
68 Kenley Jansen, LAD    $416,000
69 Jake McGee, TB    $415,200
70 Jordan Walden, LAA    $414,000
70 Vinnie Pestano, Cle    $414,000

*Statistics from baseball-reference.com and espn.com