Chris Stratton

Kansas City Royals, Relief Pitcher
Age: 34y-3m-12d (Aug 22, 1990)
Exp: 7.100 Years
Country: US
College: Mississippi State
Drafted: Round 1 (#20 overall), 2012
Agent(s): Bo McKinnis
2025 Payroll Salary

$4,500,000

2025 Cash

$4,500,000

Career Earnings

$13,500,112

2024-2025 free-agent-xxb (CURRENT)

Chris Stratton signed a 2 year , $8,000,000 contract with the Kansas City Royals, including $8,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $4,000,000. In 2025, Stratton will earn a base salary of $4,500,000, while carrying a total salary of $4,500,000 and a dead cap value of $500,000.
Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $8,000,000
Average Salary:
$4,000,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
Year Age Status PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2024 33 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 1.69% $3,500,000 $3,500,000
2025 34
Player
$4,500,000 $4,000,000 1.66% $4,500,000 $8,000,000
2026 35
UFA
Year Age Service Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2024 33 6.100 $3,500,000 - - $3,500,000 $4,000,000
2025 34 7.100
Player
$4,500,000 - - $4,500,000 $4,000,000
2026 35 --
UFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2024 33 $3,500,000 $3,500,000 $3,500,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000
2025 34
Player
$4,500,000 $4,500,000 $8,000,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000
Contract Notes
  • 2025 Player Option includes a $500,000 buyout
Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2023-2023 Arbitration

Chris Stratton signed a 1 year , $2,800,000 contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, including $2,800,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,800,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $2,800,000
Average Salary:
$2,800,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2024 / UFA
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2022-2022 Arbitration

Chris Stratton signed a 1 year , $2,700,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, including $2,700,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,700,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $2,700,000
Average Salary:
$2,700,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2021-2021 Arbitration

Chris Stratton signed a 1 year , $1,100,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, including $1,100,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,100,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,100,000
Average Salary:
$1,100,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2020-2020 Pre-Arb

Chris Stratton signed a 1 year , $588,500 contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, including $588,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $588,500.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $588,500
Average Salary:
$588,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2019-2019 Pre-Arb

Chris Stratton signed a 1 year , $567,500 contract with the San Francisco Giants, including $567,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $567,500.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $567,500
Average Salary:
$567,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2018-2018 Pre-Arb

Chris Stratton signed a 1 year , $552,500 contract with the San Francisco Giants, including $552,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $552,500.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $552,500
Average Salary:
$552,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2017-2017 Pre-Arb

Chris Stratton signed a 1 year , $535,000 contract with the San Francisco Giants, including $535,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $535,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $535,000
Average Salary:
$535,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2016-2016 Pre-Arb

Chris Stratton signed a 1 year , $507,500 contract with the San Francisco Giants, including $507,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $507,500.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $507,500
Average Salary:
$507,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2012-2012 Signing Bonus

Chris Stratton signed a 1 year , $1,850,000 contract with the San Francisco Giants, including $1,850,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,850,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,850,000
Average Salary:
$1,850,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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Seasons

7.100 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$13,500,112

Earnings w/ Different Teams

6 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2012 21
Signing Bonus
$1,850,000
$1,850,000
2016 25
Reserve / minor-buried
$85,963
$1,935,963
2017 26
Active
$248,455
$2,184,418
2018 27
Active
$445,500
$2,629,918
2019 28
Retained
Active
$122,040
$430,191
$2,751,958
$3,182,149
2020 29
Active
$217,963
$3,400,112
2021 30
Active / Arb Avoided
$1,100,000
$4,500,112
2022 31
Retained
Active / Arb Avoided
$1,750,560
$949,440
$6,250,672
$7,200,112
2023 32
Retained
Active / Arb Avoided
$1,851,598
$948,402
$9,051,710
$10,000,112
Champion
2024 33
Injured
$3,500,000
$13,500,112
Total      
$13,500,112
$13,500,112
2025 34
Active / Player Exercised
$4,500,000
Total
$18,000,112

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $779,918 $1,850,000 - $2,629,918
1 $122,040 - - $122,040
4 $3,498,714 - - $3,498,714
2 $2,801,038 - - $2,801,038
1 $948,402 - - $948,402
1 $3,500,000 - - $3,500,000
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2012
21
$1,850,000
$1,850,000
$1,850,000
2016
25
$85,963
$85,963
$1,935,963
2017
26
$248,455
$248,455
$2,184,418
2018
27
$445,500
$445,500
$2,629,918
2019
28
$122,040
$430,191
$122,040
$430,191
$2,751,958
$3,182,149
2020
29
$217,963
$217,963
$3,400,112
2021
30
$1,100,000
$1,100,000
$4,500,112
2022
31
$1,750,560
$949,440
$1,750,560
$949,440
$6,250,672
$7,200,112
2023
32
$1,851,598
$948,402
$1,851,598
$948,402
$9,051,710
$10,000,112
2024
33
$3,500,000
$3,500,000
$13,500,112
Total
$11,650,112
$1,850,000
$13,500,112
$13,500,112
2025
34
$4,500,000
$4,500,000
Total
$16,150,112
$1,850,000
$18,000,112

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $779,918 $1,850,000 - $2,629,918
1 $122,040 - - $122,040
4 $3,498,714 - - $3,498,714
2 $2,801,038 - - $2,801,038
1 $948,402 - - $948,402
1 $3,500,000 - - $3,500,000

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2024 KC Sep 14, 2024 - Sep 29, 2024 Arm
2019 PIT Aug 29, 2019 - Sep 17, 2019 Ribs
2019 PIT May 25, 2019 - Jun 18, 2019 Oblique
2017 SF Jul 29, 2017 - Aug 05, 2017 Calf
  • Oct 31, 2024 Exercised a $4.5 million player option for 2025
  • Dec 12, 2023 Signed a 2 year $8 million contract with Kansas City (KC)
  • Jul 30, 2023 Traded to Texas (TEX) from St. Louis (STL) with Jordan Montgomery and International Bonus Pool Cap Space ($250,000) for John King, Thomas Saggese and Tekoah Roby
  • Nov 17, 2022 Signed a 1 year $2.8 million contract with St. Louis (STL), avoiding arbitration
  • Aug 02, 2022 Traded to St. Louis (STL) from Pittsburgh (PIT) with Jose Quintana for Johan Oviedo and Malcom Nunez
  • Mar 22, 2022 Signed a 1 year $2.7 million contract with Pittsburgh (PIT), avoiding arbitration
  • Jan 15, 2021 Signed a 1 year $1.1 million contract with Pittsburgh (PIT), avoiding arbitration
  • Mar 05, 2020 Signed a 1 year $588,500 contract with Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • May 11, 2019 Traded to Pittsburgh (PIT) from Los Angeles (LAA) for cash considerations
  • Mar 26, 2019 Traded to Los Angeles (LAA) from San Francisco (SF) for Williams Jerez
  • Mar 05, 2019 Signed a 1 year $567,500 contract with San Francisco (SF)
  • Mar 24, 2018 Signed a 1 year $552,500 contract with San Francisco (SF)
  • Jun 12, 2012 Signed a contract with San Francisco (SF)
  • Jun 04, 2012 Drafted by San Francisco (SF): Round 1 (#20 overall)
Year Team GP GS H R ER BB K HR W L SV IP ERA WHIP WAR
2024 KC 57 0 53 38 36 33 44 5 4 3 4 58.3 5.55 1.47 -0.70
2023 TEX 63 0 70 39 37 25 81 8 2 1 1 82.7 4.03 1.15 0.13
2022 STL 60 1 72 34 30 25 60 4 10 4 2 63.3 4.26 1.53 -0.43
2021 PIT 68 0 70 34 32 33 86 9 7 1 8 79.3 3.63 1.30 1.12
2020 PIT 27 0 26 19 13 13 39 3 2 1 0 30.0 3.90 1.30 -0.54
2019 PIT 35 5 93 50 47 33 69 13 1 3 0 76.0 5.57 1.66 -0.58
2018 SF 28 26 153 87 82 54 112 19 10 10 0 145.0 5.09 1.43 -0.48
2017 SF 13 10 59 25 24 28 51 5 4 4 1 58.7 3.68 1.48 1.42
2016 SF 7 0 11 4 4 5 6 1 1 0 0 10.0 3.60 1.60 0.05

Calculated Market Value

Market Value

  • 1 years, $4,863,750
  • Avg. Salary: $4,863,750
  • MLB Rank: 214
  • RP Rank: 26

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2026
  • Avg. Salary: $4,000,000
  • MLB Rank: 236
  • RP Rank: 33

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Chris Stratton to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Justin Topa 1 $1,250,000 $1,250,000 32
Tyler Rogers 1 $3,200,000 $3,200,000 32
Julian Merryweather 1 $1,175,000 $1,175,000 32
Brooks Raley 2 $10,000,000 $5,000,000 33
Averages 1 $3,906,250 $2,656,250 32.3

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Stratton's current age (34), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
1 $5,000,000 $5,000,000

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Stratton statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP/Yr, SV, ERA, WHIP, K/9, BB/9, FIP, WAR

Player GP/Yr SV ERA WHIP K/9 BB/9 FIP WAR
Justin Topa
2022-2023
40.00 0.04 3.76 1.46 6.44 3.63 3.40 1.14
Tyler Rogers
2022-2023
67.50 0.01 3.31 1.21 6.56 2.53 3.60 1.29
Julian Merryweather
2022-2023
47.00 0.02 5.07 1.37 10.00 3.43 3.93 0.33
Brooks Raley
2020-2021
39.50 0.04 4.87 1.08 12.04 2.82 3.60 -0.20
Average 48.50 0.03 4.25 1.28 8.76 3.10 3.63 0.64
Chris Stratton
2023-2024
55.50 0.05 4.25 1.24 8.16 3.96 3.92 0.27
Pct Change 14.43 66.67 0.00 3.13 -6.85 -27.74 -7.99 -57.81
Median Prime % Change -3.43%
Average Prime % Change -2.02%

Calculated Market Value: Chris Stratton

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
1 years, $4,863,750 $4,863,750
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