Carson Kelly

Chicago Cubs, Catcher
Age: 31y-7m-23d (Jul 14, 1994)
Exp: 7.161 Years
Country: US
Drafted: Round 2 (#86 overall), 2012
Agent(s): Apex Baseball
2026 Payroll Salary

$5,000,000

2026 Cash

$5,000,000

Career Earnings

$21,633,114

2025-2027 Free Agent (CURRENT)

Carson Kelly signed a 2 year, $11,500,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $11,500,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $5,750,000. In 2026, Kelly will earn a base salary of $5,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $5,000,000.
Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $11,500,000
Average Salary:
$5,750,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2028 / UFA
YOS @ Signing:
6.161
Year Age YOS Status PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2025 30 6.161 $5,500,000 $6,250,000 2.59% $5,500,000 $5,500,000
2026 31 7.161 $5,000,000 $5,750,000 2.36% $5,000,000 $10,500,000
2027 32 7.161
Mutual
 $7,500,000 $5,750,000 - $1,500,000 $12,000,000
2028 33 -
UFA
Year Age Service Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2025 30 6.161 $5,000,000 $500,000 - $5,500,000 $6,250,000
2026 31 7.161 $5,000,000 - - $5,000,000 $5,750,000
2027 32 -
Mutual
 $7,500,000 - - $7,500,000 $5,750,000
2028 33 --
UFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2025 30 $5,000,000 $5,500,000 $5,500,000 $12,000,000 $5,500,000 $4,000,000
2026 31 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $10,500,000 $6,500,000 $5,250,000 $3,250,000
2027 32
Mutual
 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $12,000,000 $1,500,000 $4,000,000 $1,500,000
Contract Notes

  • Performance Incentives
Games Started: $500k total (earned)
81:  $250k (earned)
91:  $250k (earned)

  • 2027 Mutual option ($1.5M buyout)

Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2023-2024 free-agent-restricted-street

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $720,000
Average Salary:
$720,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
4.161
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2023-2023 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $4,275,000
Average Salary:
$4,275,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
4.161
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2022-2022 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $3,325,000
Average Salary:
$3,325,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
3.161
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2021-2021 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,700,000
Average Salary:
$1,700,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
2.161
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2020-2020 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $581,700
Average Salary:
$581,700
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
1.161
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2019-2019 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $560,000
Average Salary:
$560,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0.161
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2018-2018 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $545,000
Average Salary:
$545,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0.102
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2017-2017 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $535,000
Average Salary:
$535,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0.029
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2016-2016 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $507,500
Average Salary:
$507,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2012-2012 Signing Bonus

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,600,000
Average Salary:
$1,600,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0
Spotrac Premium Tools
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Seasons

7.161 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$22,728,114

Earnings w/ Different Teams

5 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Service Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2012 17
-
Signing Bonus
$1,600,000
$1,600,000
2016 21
0
Active
$80,417
$1,680,417
2017 22
0.029
Active
Active
$535,000
$535,000
$2,215,417
$2,750,417
2018 23
0.102
Active
$175,800
$2,926,217
2019 24
0.161
Active
Active
$560,000
$560,000
$3,486,217
$4,046,217
2020 25
1.161
Active
$215,444
$4,261,661
2021 26
2.161
Active / Arb Avoided
$1,700,000
$5,961,661
2022 27
3.161
Active / Arb Avoided
$3,325,000
$9,286,661
2023 28
4.161
Retained
Active
$4,275,000
$166,453
$13,561,661
$13,728,114
2024 29
5.161
Retained
Active / Club Exercised
$2,333,346
$1,166,654
$16,061,460
$17,228,114
2025 30
6.161
Active
$5,500,000
$22,728,114
Total      
$22,728,114
$22,728,114
2026 31
7.161
Active
$5,000,000
2027 32
7.161
Active / Mutual
$1,500,000
Total
$29,228,114

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $1,326,217 $1,600,000 - $2,926,217
5 $10,635,444 - - $10,635,444
2 $2,499,799 - - $2,499,799
1 $1,166,654 - - $1,166,654
1 $5,000,000 - $500,000 $5,500,000
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2012
17
$1,600,000
$1,600,000
$1,600,000
2016
21
$80,417
$80,417
$1,680,417
2017
22
$535,000
$535,000
$535,000
$535,000
$2,215,417
$2,750,417
2018
23
$175,800
$175,800
$2,926,217
2019
24
$560,000
$560,000
$560,000
$560,000
$3,486,217
$4,046,217
2020
25
$215,444
$215,444
$4,261,661
2021
26
$1,700,000
$1,700,000
$5,961,661
2022
27
$3,325,000
$3,325,000
$9,286,661
2023
28
$4,275,000
$166,453
$4,275,000
$166,453
$13,561,661
$13,728,114
2024
29
$2,333,346
$1,166,654
$2,333,346
$1,166,654
$16,061,460
$17,228,114
2025
30
$5,000,000
$500,000
$5,500,000
$22,728,114
Total
$20,628,114
$1,600,000
$500,000
$22,728,114
$22,728,114
2026
31
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
2027
32
$1,500,000
$1,500,000
Total
$27,128,114
$1,600,000
$500,000
$29,228,114

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $1,326,217 $1,600,000 - $2,926,217
5 $10,635,444 - - $10,635,444
2 $2,499,799 - - $2,499,799
1 $1,166,654 - - $1,166,654
1 $5,000,000 - $500,000 $5,500,000

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2023 ARI Mar 30, 2023 - Jun 12, 2023 Arm
2022 ARI May 05, 2022 - Jun 11, 2022 Oblique
2021 ARI Jun 20, 2021 - Jul 31, 2021 Wrist
2021 ARI May 15, 2021 - May 24, 2021 Toe
2018 STL May 17, 2018 - May 26, 2018 Hamstring
  • Dec 13, 2024 Signed a 2 year $11.5 million contract with Chicago (CHC), including a mutual option for 2027
  • Jul 28, 2024 Traded to Texas (TEX) from Detroit (DET) for Tyler Owens and Liam Hicks
  • Nov 06, 2023 Detroit (DET) exercised a $3.5 million option for 2024
  • Aug 19, 2023 Signed a contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Aug 16, 2023 Released by Arizona (ARI)
  • Aug 13, 2023 Designated for Assignment by Arizona (ARI)
  • Jan 13, 2023 Signed a 1 year $4.275 million contract with Arizona (ARI), avoiding arbitration
  • Mar 22, 2022 Signed a 1 year $3.325 million contract with Arizona (ARI), avoiding arbitration
  • Jan 15, 2021 Signed a 1 year $1.7 million contract with Arizona (ARI), avoiding arbitration
  • Mar 05, 2020 Signed a 1 year $581,700 contract with Arizona (ARI)
  • Mar 05, 2019 Signed a 1 year $560,000 contract with Arizona (ARI)
  • Dec 05, 2018 Traded to Arizona (ARI) from St. Louis (STL) with Luke Weaver|17703, Andy Young and 2019 1st round pick for Paul Goldschmidt
  • Sep 04, 2016 Contract purchased by St. Louis (STL)
  • Jun 10, 2012 Signed a contract with St. Louis (STL)
  • Jun 05, 2012 Drafted by St. Louis (STL): Round 2 (#86 overall)
Year Team GP GS PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB K SB AVG OBP SLG OPS WAR
2025 CHC 111 101 421 369 48 92 13 1 17 50 158 45 80 2 .249 .333 .428 .761 3.54
2024 TEX 91 82 313 281 32 67 9 1 9 37 105 25 55 0 .238 .313 .374 .687 0.49
2023 DET 52 44 151 136 13 28 5 0 2 13 39 14 40 1 .206 .278 .287 .565 0.06
2022 ARI 104 88 354 317 40 67 18 0 7 35 106 29 71 2 .211 .282 .334 .616 0.85
2021 ARI 98 80 358 304 41 73 11 1 13 46 125 44 74 0 .240 .344 .411 .755 2.15
2020 ARI 39 34 129 122 11 27 5 0 5 19 47 6 29 0 .221 .264 .385 .649 -0.32
2019 ARI 111 85 365 314 46 77 19 0 18 47 150 48 79 0 .245 .348 .478 .826 1.67
2018 STL 19 11 39 35 1 4 0 0 0 3 4 3 7 0 .114 .205 .114 .319 -0.42
2017 STL 34 14 75 69 5 12 3 0 0 6 15 5 11 0 .174 .240 .217 .457 -0.43
2016 STL 10 2 14 13 1 2 1 0 0 1 3 0 2 0 .154 .214 .231 .445 -0.01
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