What is Jake Westbrook's net worth?
Jake Westbrook is a retired American professional baseball player who has a net worth of $25 million.
Jake Westbrook carved out a reliable 13-year Major League Baseball career as a ground ball specialist from 2000 to 2013. The right-handed starter posted a 105-103 record with a 4.32 ERA across 1,747.2 innings, primarily with the Cleveland Indians. Despite never being a dominant ace, Westbrook established himself as a dependable middle-rotation pitcher known for his heavy sinker and ability to induce double plays. He made one All-Star team in 2004 and won a World Series ring with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011. Westbrook's career was marked by consistency when healthy, though he missed significant time with injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2008. He finished his career having earned nearly $70 million while starting 267 games and completing 14 of them.
Contracts & Career Earnings
Westbrook's largest contract came in 2007 when he signed a three-year, $33 million extension with Cleveland. Prior to that, he had signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal covering 2005-2006. His final major contract was a two-year, $16.5 million agreement with St. Louis. In total, Westbrook earned approximately $71 million during his MLB career, with his highest single-season salary being $11 million in 2010 from Cleveland.
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Rise with Cleveland
The Colorado Rockies selected Westbrook in the first round (21st overall) of the 1996 MLB Draft. He was traded twice before making his MLB debut – first to Montreal and then to the Yankees. New York dealt him to Cleveland in 2000 as part of the David Justice trade. Westbrook found his footing with the Indians, developing into a reliable starter by 2003. His breakout came in 2004, when he went 14-9 with a 3.38 ERA and earned his only All-Star selection.
Pitching Style and Peak Years
Westbrook's success stemmed from his excellent sinker, which routinely generated ground ball rates above 60%. While never a big strikeout pitcher, he limited hard contact and kept the ball in the park, allowing just 0.7 home runs per nine innings during his peak years (2003-2007). He was particularly effective at inducing double plays, ranking among league leaders in this category multiple times.
Injuries and Later Career
After establishing himself as Cleveland's most reliable starter, Westbrook's career was interrupted by Tommy John surgery in 2008. He returned in 2010 but was traded to the Cardinals mid-season. In St. Louis, he contributed to their 2011 World Series championship run, though he struggled in his postseason appearances. He remained with the Cardinals through 2013, providing steady if unspectacular performance before retiring.
Personal Life & Real Estate
In December 1998, Jake married his high school sweetheart, Heather Daniels. Today they have four children and live in Danielsville, Georgia, where in 2013 they build a 17,000-square-foot mansion that sits on a massive property surrounded by rolling lawns and a large private lake. They also own a home in Tennessee.
