08/05/2026
Ever wonder what the MLB pension is for a player? Last week, Andrew Benintendi reached 10 years of MLB service time. That qualifies him for a full pension.
That led to me digging around on what comes with 10 years of service time. Fewer than 10% of players have accumulated 10 years of service time.
To qualify for the MLB pension, a player must have at least 43 days of MLB service time. One full year of MLB service time is equal to 172 days.
In 2026, the current pension benefits (at age 62) are as follows:
43 days of MLB service time = $7,250 per year
1 year of MLB service = $29,000 per year
5 years of MLB service = $145,000 per year
10 years of MLB service = $290,000 per year
Players can start accessing MLB pension benefits as early as age 45 with full pension payouts happening at age 62.
Days spent on the active 26-man roster and the MLB injured list both count. Days in the minor leagues do not count toward MLB service time.
The MLB pension continues to rise with the cost-of-living increases. The MLBPA projects that the yearly pension will rise by ~ 1.8% yearly.
4 Years: Unlocks full, lifelong medical and healthcare benefits for the player through the union.