Kansas City Royals career earnings
$1,307,837,984 across 98 careers, led by Zack Greinke on $336,174,948.
Every man on the roster, ranked by what his contracts have been worth across his whole career rather than by what this club is paying him now. It comes to 3.0% of the money in the MLB file.
Kansas City Royals at a glance
What the roster has been paid
- Career money
- $1,307,837,984
- Careers
- 98
- Per career
- $13,345,286
- Paid through 2024
- $1,257,837,984
- Still to be paid
- $50,000,000
- Rank
- 16 of 30 clubs
The Kansas City Royals squad page carries the current roster and what each man is paid this season. What follows is the other question: what those same men have earned across every season of their careers.
The fifteen richest Kansas City Royals careers
Total contract money, 2000 to 2026
Every Kansas City Royals career
Ranked by total contract money
| # | Player | Position | Seasons | Span | Still owed | Career earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Zack Greinke Paid in 2024 | Starting Pitcher | 24 | 2002 to 2026 | $25.0m | $336,174,948$336.2m |
| 02 | Aroldis Chapman | Relief Pitcher | 14 | 2010 to 2023 | - | $152,816,491$152.8m |
| 03 | Salvador Perez Paid in 2024 | Catcher | 17 | 2006 to 2026 | $24.0m | $133,742,929$133.7m |
| 04 | Ervin Santana | 17 | 2000 to 2021 | - | $109,651,027$109.7m | |
| 05 | Wade Davis | 14 | 2004 to 2021 | - | $79,001,196$79.0m | |
| 06 | Mike Minor | Starting Pitcher | 14 | 2009 to 2022 | - | $61,414,609$61.4m |
| 07 | Jordan Lyles Paid in 2024 | Starting Pitcher | 15 | 2008 to 2024 | - | $50,444,136$50.4m |
| 08 | Greg Holland | 11 | 2007 to 2021 | - | $48,936,800$48.9m | |
| 09 | Hunter Dozier Paid in 2024 | 1st Base | 11 | 2013 to 2025 | $1000k | $28,662,369$28.7m |
| 10 | Whit Merrifield Paid in 2024 | Right Field | 10 | 2010 to 2024 | - | $26,042,486$26.0m |
| 11 | Michael Taylor | Center Field | 11 | 2009 to 2023 | - | $18,435,051$18.4m |
| 12 | Jarrod Dyson | 12 | 2006 to 2021 | - | $17,679,366$17.7m | |
| 13 | Brad Keller | Starting Pitcher | 7 | 2013 to 2023 | - | $15,425,212$15.4m |
| 14 | Arodys Vizcaino | Relief Pitcher | 11 | 2007 to 2022 | - | $12,962,774$13.0m |
| 15 | Adalberto Mondesi | Shortstop | 9 | 2011 to 2023 | - | $12,021,542$12.0m |
| 16 | Ryan Yarbrough | Starting Pitcher | 7 | 2014 to 2023 | - | $10,388,543$10.4m |
| 17 | Scott Barlow | Relief Pitcher | 7 | 2011 to 2023 | - | $9,555,006$9.6m |
| 18 | Matt Duffy | 3rd Base | 10 | 2012 to 2023 | - | $9,455,269$9.5m |
| 19 | Bobby Witt Jr. | Shortstop | 3 | 2019 to 2023 | - | $9,235,650$9.2m |
| 20 | Amir Garrett | Relief Pitcher | 8 | 2011 to 2023 | - | $8,788,478$8.8m |
| 21 | Bubba Starling | 4 | 2011 to 2020 | - | $8,057,334$8.1m | |
| 22 | Nicky Lopez | 3rd Base | 6 | 2016 to 2023 | - | $7,717,150$7.7m |
| 23 | Asa Lacy | Pitchers | 1 | 2020 | - | $6,670,000$6.7m |
| 24 | Brady Singer | Starting Pitcher | 5 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $6,544,044$6.5m |
| 25 | Lucius Fox | Shortstop | 3 | 2015 to 2022 | - | $6,140,744$6.1m |
| 26 | Nick Wittgren | Relief Pitcher | 9 | 2012 to 2023 | - | $6,104,354$6.1m |
| 27 | Mike Mayers | Starting Pitcher | 9 | 2013 to 2023 | - | $5,256,533$5.3m |
| 28 | Jesse Hahn | 9 | 2010 to 2021 | - | $5,222,685$5.2m | |
| 29 | Kris Bubic | Starting Pitcher | 5 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $5,099,876$5.1m |
| 30 | Nick Pratto | 1st Base | 3 | 2017 to 2023 | - | $4,326,140$4.3m |
| 31 | Ryan O'Hearn | 1st Base | 7 | 2014 to 2023 | - | $4,219,559$4.2m |
| 32 | Sam Freeman | Relief Pitcher | 9 | 2012 to 2020 | - | $4,088,613$4.1m |
| 33 | Nicholas Lopez | Shortstop | 5 | 2016 to 2022 | - | $4,016,850$4.0m |
| 34 | Taylor Clarke | Relief Pitcher | 6 | 2015 to 2023 | - | $4,005,064$4.0m |
| 35 | Jake Brentz Paid in 2024 | Relief Pitcher | 5 | 2013 to 2024 | - | $3,881,750$3.9m |
| 36 | Erick Pena | Outfielders | 1 | 2019 | - | $3,800,000$3.8m |
| 37 | Josh Staumont | Relief Pitcher | 6 | 2015 to 2023 | - | $3,730,559$3.7m |
| 38 | Frank Mozzicato | Pitchers | 1 | 2021 | - | $3,547,500$3.5m |
| 39 | MJ Melendez | Right Field | 3 | 2017 to 2023 | - | $3,427,822$3.4m |
| 40 | Daniel Lynch | Starting Pitcher | 4 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $3,349,107$3.3m |
| 41 | Cameron Gallagher | Catcher | 7 | 2011 to 2022 | - | $3,318,446$3.3m |
| 42 | Matt Beaty | 3rd Base | 5 | 2019 to 2023 | - | $3,314,216$3.3m |
| 43 | Nick Loftin | Shortstop | 1 | 2020 | - | $3,000,000$3.0m |
| 44 | Ben Kudrna | Pitchers | 1 | 2021 | - | $2,997,500$3.0m |
| 45 | Ronald Bolanos | Starting Pitcher | 5 | 2016 to 2022 | - | $2,599,827$2.6m |
| 46 | Jackson Kowar | Starting Pitcher | 3 | 2018 to 2022 | - | $2,464,424$2.5m |
| 47 | Drew Waters | Outfielders | 3 | 2017 to 2023 | - | $2,391,624$2.4m |
| 48 | Foster Griffin | Starting Pitcher | 3 | 2014 to 2022 | - | $2,179,855$2.2m |
| 49 | Kyle Isbel | Center Field | 4 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $2,145,941$2.1m |
| 50 | Daniel Mengden | Starting Pitcher | 7 | 2014 to 2022 | - | $1,838,759$1.8m |
| 51 | Edward Olivares | Left Field | 5 | 2014 to 2023 | - | $1,796,317$1.8m |
| 52 | Carlos Hernandez | Relief Pitcher | 5 | 2016 to 2023 | - | $1,645,405$1.6m |
| 53 | Michael Massey | 2nd Base | 3 | 2019 to 2023 | - | $1,453,032$1.5m |
| 54 | Ben Hernandez | Pitchers | 1 | 2020 | - | $1,450,000$1.4m |
| 55 | Alec Marsh | Pitchers | 2 | 2019 to 2023 | - | $1,266,803 |
| 56 | Vinnie Pasquantino | 1st Base | 3 | 2019 to 2023 | - | $1,235,100 |
| 57 | Jose Cuas | Relief Pitcher | 3 | 2015 to 2023 | - | $1,213,549 |
| 58 | Tyler Zuber | Relief Pitcher | 4 | 2017 to 2022 | - | $1,188,532 |
| 59 | Colten Brewer | Relief Pitcher | 5 | 2011 to 2021 | - | $1,127,057 |
| 60 | Carter Jensen | Catcher | 1 | 2021 | - | $1,097,500 |
| 61 | Angel Zerpa | Starting Pitcher | 4 | 2016 to 2023 | - | $1,029,051 |
| 62 | Peyton Wilson | 2nd Base | 1 | 2021 | - | $1,000,800 |
| 63 | Shane Panzini | Pitchers | 1 | 2021 | - | $997,500 |
| 64 | Daniel Tillo | Pitchers | 2 | 2017 to 2021 | - | $959,277 |
| 65 | Austin Cox | Pitchers | 2 | 2018 to 2023 | - | $904,278 |
| 66 | Collin Snider | Relief Pitcher | 3 | 2017 to 2023 | - | $892,654 |
| 67 | Michael Shawaryn | 2 | 2016 to 2019 | - | $826,395 | |
| 68 | Ryan McBroom | 3 | 2019 to 2021 | - | $823,690 | |
| 69 | Jon Heasley | Starting Pitcher | 3 | 2018 to 2022 | - | $769,630 |
| 70 | Tyler Gentry | Outfielders | 1 | 2020 | - | $750,000 |
| 71 | Nick Heath | 2 | 2020 to 2021 | - | $732,480 | |
| 72 | Gabe Speier | Relief Pitcher | 5 | 2013 to 2022 | - | $723,840 |
| 73 | Diego Hernandez | Outfielders | 1 | 2023 | - | $720,000 |
| 74 | Jonathan Bowlan | Starting Pitcher | 1 | 2018 | - | $697,500 |
| 75 | Richard Lovelady | Relief Pitcher | 4 | 2016 to 2021 | - | $649,514 |
| 76 | Maikel Garcia | Shortstop | 2 | 2022 to 2023 | - | $642,236 |
| 77 | Dylan Coleman | Relief Pitcher | 2 | 2018 to 2021 | - | $539,871 |
| 78 | Samad Taylor | Shortstop | 2 | 2016 to 2023 | - | $539,197 |
| 79 | Dairon Blanco | Outfielders | 2 | 2022 to 2023 | - | $487,371 |
| 80 | Luca Tresh | Catcher | 1 | 2021 | - | $423,000 |
| 81 | Jace Vines | Pitchers | 1 | 2016 | - | $375,000 |
| 82 | Brewer Hicklen | Outfielders | 2 | 2017 to 2022 | - | $368,268 |
| 83 | Zach Haake | Pitchers | 1 | 2018 | - | $297,500 |
| 84 | Nathan Eaton | Catcher | 2 | 2018 to 2022 | - | $296,530 |
| 85 | Noah Murdock | Pitchers | 1 | 2019 | - | $230,500 |
| 86 | Stephen Woods | Relief Pitcher | 1 | 2016 | - | $200,000 |
| 87 | Will Klein | Pitchers | 1 | 2020 | - | $200,000 |
| 88 | Maximo Castillo | Starting Pitcher | 1 | 2022 | - | $196,146 |
| 89 | Drew Parrish | Pitchers | 1 | 2019 | - | $187,400 |
| 90 | Sebastian Rivero | Catcher | 1 | 2021 | - | $174,819 |
| 91 | Andrew Hoffman | Pitchers | 1 | 2021 | - | $125,000 |
| 92 | C.J. Alexander | 3rd Base | 1 | 2018 | - | $125,000 |
| 93 | Darryl Collins | Outfielders | 1 | 2018 | - | $97,500 |
| 94 | Josh Dye | Pitchers | 1 | 2018 | - | $60,000 |
| 95 | Freddy Fermin | Catcher | 1 | 2022 | - | $11,538 |
| 96 | Jeison Guzman | 1 | 2020 | - | $9,345 | |
| 97 | Ivan Castillo | Shortstop | 1 | 2021 | - | $9,201 |
| 98 | Clay Dungan | Shortstop | 1 | 2019 | - | $2,500 |
Kansas City Royals money by season
What these careers were paid, year by year
2022 is the biggest year on this chart at $136,902,253. A roster assembled recently draws a spike rather than a run: the chart follows the men who are here now, wherever they were paid it.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the highest paid Kansas City Royals player?
Zack Greinke. His contracts are worth $336,174,948 across 24 seasons from 2002 to 2026.
What have Kansas City Royals players earned in total?
$1,307,837,984 across 98 careers, an average of $13,345,286 each. That is 3.0% of every dollar in the MLB file.
How does that rank?
Kansas City Royals is 16 of 30 clubs by total career money, behind Milwaukee Brewers on $1,349,605,534 and ahead of Chicago White Sox on $1,275,849,245.
How many are still being paid?
6 of the 98 have a figure against the 2024 season, and $50,000,000 is written into deals that run past it.
Is this the Kansas City Royals payroll?
No. It is career money carried by the current roster: everything each man's contracts have been worth across every season, at this club or anywhere else. A payroll is one season and this is every one of them.
The clubs either side
The same table, 16 other clubs
Boston Red Sox · St. Louis Cardinals · Los Angeles Angels · New York Yankees · Texas Rangers · Toronto Blue Jays · Chicago Cubs · Milwaukee Brewers · Chicago White Sox · San Francisco Giants · Houston Astros · Miami Marlins · Minnesota Twins · Arizona Diamondbacks · Detroit Tigers · Seattle Mariners · All-time MLB earnings
Where to next
The seasons, the clubs and the rest of the league
Every season
Every club
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