Highest-Paid MLB Benchwarmers - Where MLB Teams are Wasting the Most Money in 2017

This article will make you angry.

When you learn how much some of these ballplayers are getting paid, and how poorly their performing, you'll blood will boil. If we were doing our jobs as bad as these Boys of Summer, we'd be fired.

Below, we've listed each team's salary, where their salary ranks, and their highest paid player for 2017. We've also listed their most overpaid batter (everyday player) and overpaid pitcher (starter or reliever) as well as each team's best-paid benchwarmer (position players only).

There are many ways to judge batters and pitchers. We choose batting average and earned run average.

We believe that if you're making seven or eight figures, your batting average should be above .260 and your ERA below 4.50.

For example, Anthony Rizzo leads the Chicago Cubs in home runs but his batting average is .227. When you're making more than $7 million you shouldn't be that close to the Mendoza Line.

We also believe you need to play. Some batters and pitchers were selected because they're getting paid a fortune but are stuck on the disabled list.

For example, New York Mets slugger David Wright is getting paid $20 million and hasn't played in over a year.

The “best-paid benchwarmer” category isn't necessarily highlighting an underperforming position player. It is, however, highlighting players who aren't normally in the lineup, but do receive a lot of money.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Jhonny Peralta sits more than he plays. Despite that, he'll still take home $10 million this season.

There's not much science or number crunching behind our selection. We just looked at statistics and salaries (and sometimes the disabled list) and picked a player we think is grossly overcharging his employers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have the league's highest team salary at $245,982,272. The Dodgers also have the league's highest paid player. Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw will make $35,571,428 this season.

The top candidate for overpaid batter is Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon. He's making $16 million and batting .175.

Finalist for overpaid pitcher is the Philadelphia Phillies Clay Buchholz. He's earning $13.5 million, has a 12.27 ERA, and is on the 60-day disabled list.

Did we miss an overpaid player? Sure. Will you disagree with some of our selections? Probably.

Unfortunately, for every Aaron Judge (.326 and 17 homers making $544,500) and Brad Peacock (2.13 ERA and 0.987 WHIP making $541,500) there are half-a-dozen players cashing checks they're not earning.