James McArthur

Kansas City Royals, Relief Pitcher
Age: 29y-2m-25d (Dec 11, 1996)
Exp: 2.150 Years
Country: US
College: Mississippi
Drafted: Round 12 (#347 overall), 2018
2026 Payroll Salary

$810,000

2026 Cash

$810,000

Career Earnings

$2,304,958

2026-2026 Arbitration (CURRENT)

James McArthur signed a 1 year, $810,000 contract with the Kansas City Royals, including $810,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $810,000. In 2026, McArthur will earn a base salary of $810,000, while carrying a total salary of $810,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $810,000
Average Salary:
$810,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2030 / UFA
YOS @ Signing:
2.15
Year Age YOS Status PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2026 29 2.15
Arb Avoided
 $810,000 $810,000 0.33% $810,000 $810,000
2027 30 --
ARB 2
2028 31 --
ARB 3
2029 32 --
ARB 4
2030 33 -
UFA
Year Age Service Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2026 29 2.150
Arb Avoided
 $810,000 - - $810,000 $810,000
2027 30 --
ARB 2
2028 31 --
ARB 3
2029 32 --
ARB 4
2030 33 --
UFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2026 29
Arb Avoided
 $810,000 $810,000 $810,000 $810,000 $810,000 $810,000
Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2025-2025 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $773,750
Average Salary:
$773,750
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
1.15
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2024-2024 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $745,750
Average Salary:
$745,750
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0.15
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2023-2023 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $720,000
Average Salary:
$720,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0.099
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2022-2022 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $700,000
Average Salary:
$700,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0
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2018-2018 Signing Bonus

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $215,000
Average Salary:
$215,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0
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Seasons

2.150 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$2,304,958

Earnings w/ Different Teams

2 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Service Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2018 21
-
Signing Bonus
$215,000
$215,000
2022 25
0
Injured
$376,908
$591,908
2023 26
0.099
Active
$193,550
$785,458
2024 27
0.15
Injured
$745,750
$1,531,208
2025 28
1.15
Injured
$773,750
$2,304,958
Total      
$2,304,958
$2,304,958
2026 29
2.15
Active / Arb Avoided
$810,000
Total
$3,114,958

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
2 $376,908 $215,000 - $591,908
3 $1,713,050 - - $1,713,050
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2018
21
$215,000
$215,000
$215,000
2022
25
$376,908
$376,908
$591,908
2023
26
$193,550
$193,550
$785,458
2024
27
$745,750
$745,750
$1,531,208
2025
28
$773,750
$773,750
$2,304,958
Total
$2,089,958
$215,000
$2,304,958
$2,304,958
2026
29
$810,000
$810,000
Total
$2,899,958
$215,000
$3,114,958

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
2 $376,908 $215,000 - $591,908
3 $1,713,050 - - $1,713,050

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2025 KC Mar 27, 2025 - Sep 28, 2025 Elbow
2024 KC Sep 17, 2024 - Sep 29, 2024 Elbow
2022 PHI Jun 29, 2022 - Oct 05, 2022 Elbow
  • Nov 20, 2025 Signed a 1 year $810,000 contract with Kansas City (KC), avoiding arbitration
  • Mar 01, 2024 Signed a 1 year $745,750 contract with Kansas City (KC)
  • Sep 01, 2023 Recalled from the Minors by Kansas City (KC)
  • Aug 17, 2023 Optioned to the Minors by Kansas City (KC)
  • Aug 04, 2023 Recalled from the Minors by Kansas City (KC)
  • Aug 02, 2023 Optioned to the Minors by Kansas City (KC)
  • Aug 01, 2023 Recalled from the Minors by Kansas City (KC)
  • Jun 30, 2023 Optioned to the Minors by Kansas City (KC)
  • Jun 24, 2023 Recalled from the Minors by Kansas City (KC)
  • May 08, 2023 Traded to Kansas City (KC) from Philadelphia (PHI) for Junior Marin
  • May 04, 2023 Designated for Assignment by Philadelphia (PHI)
  • Jun 29, 2022 Contract purchased by Philadelphia (PHI)
  • Mar 25, 2022 Optioned to the Minors by Philadelphia (PHI)
  • Nov 19, 2021 Contract purchased by Philadelphia (PHI)
  • Jun 12, 2018 Signed a contract with Philadelphia (PHI)
  • Jun 04, 2018 Drafted by Philadelphia (PHI): Round 12 (#347 overall)
Year Team GP GS H R ER BB K HR W L SV IP ERA WHIP WAR
2024 KC 58 0 68 36 31 14 49 8 5 7 18 57.0 4.90 1.44 -0.45
2023 KC 18 2 20 12 12 2 23 2 1 0 4 23.3 4.63 0.94 0.13
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