Baseball players get paid so much because they have some of the most well-paid media rights agreements out of any sport.
These contracts enable baseball teams to make much money from merchandise sales, TV contracts, and ticket sales for baseball games. The revenue earned from these income streams enables teams to pay players well.
Baseball players, on average, earn more money than most other professional athletes, except basketball players in the NBA.
Many baseball players can also extend their careers well after they retire as an athlete by becoming a manager or specific kind of coach. Some also choose to go into sports commentary and earn high-paying salaries.
Baseball players are also paid a lot of money because their contracts often are for many years. Players signing more long-term contracts can often receive more money than those baseball players who sign shorter deals.
Players' salaries can also increase when they have impressive statistics within the game, helping them to earn even more money.