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2026
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CHICAGO CUBS PLAYER PAYROLL▼
| Estimated 2026 Payroll: | $233M | Legend: | FREE AGENT | Club Option | Player Option | Mutual Option | Vesting Option | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Final 2025 Payroll: | $206M | Estimated Value|Money Owed to Team | ||||||
Players With Guaranteed Salaries▼
| Player | Age | Service Time | Contract | Info | AAV | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Bregman | 32.0 | 9.070 | 5 yr, $175M (2026-30); deferrals lower AAV | $30,893,902 | $35,000,000 | $35,000,000 | $35,000,000 | $35,000,000 | $35,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||
| Dansby Swanson | 32.2 | 9.047 | 7 yr, $177M (2023-29) | $25,285,714 | $28,000,000 | $28,000,000 | $27,000,000 | $26,000,000 | FREE AGENT | |||
| Shota Imanaga | 32.6 | 2.000 | 1 yr, $22.025M (2026) | $22,025,000 | $22,025,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Ian Happ | 31.7 | 8.036 | 3 yr, $61M (2024-26) | $20,333,333 | $19,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Seiya Suzuki | 31.6 | 4.000 | 5 yr, $85M (2022-26) | $17,000,000 | $19,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Jameson Taillon | 34.4 | 9.110 | 4 yr, $68M (2023-26) | $17,000,000 | $18,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Matthew Boyd | 35.2 | 9.057 | 2 yr, $29M (2025-26), 2027 mutual option | $14,500,000 | $17,000,000 | $15,000,000 | ||||||
| Nico Hoerner | 28.9 | 6.014 | 3 yr, $35M (2024-26); 6 yr, $141M (2027-32); deferrals lower AAV | $11,666,667 | $12,000,000 | $23,833,333 | $23,833,333 | $23,333,333 | $23,333,333 | $23,333,333 | $23,333,333 | |
| Phil Maton | 33.0 | 8.047 | 2 yr, $14.5M (2026-27), 2028 club option | $7,250,000 | $5,500,000 | $6,000,000 | $8,500,000 | |||||
| Colin Rea | 35.8 | 6.057 | 1 yr, $6.5M (2026), 2027 club option | $6,500,000 | $5,500,000 | $7,500,000 | ||||||
| Hunter Harvey | 31.3 | 6.047 | 1 yr, $6M (2026), 2027 mutual option | $6,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $8,000,000 | ||||||
| Carson Kelly | 31.7 | 7.161 | 2 yr, $11.5M (2025-26), 2027 mutual option | $5,750,000 | $5,000,000 | $7,500,000 | ||||||
| Caleb Thielbar | 39.2 | 7.131 | 1 yr, $4.5M (2026), 2027 mutual option | $4,500,000 | $4,000,000 | $6,000,000 | ||||||
| Hoby Milner | 35.2 | 6.068 | 1 yr, $3.75M (2026) | $3,750,000 | $3,750,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Dylan Carlson | 27.5 | 5.067 | 1 yr, $2M (2026) | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Michael Conforto | 33.1 | 9.043 | 1 yr, $2M (2026) | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Javier Assad | 28.7 | 3.027 | 1 yr, $1.8M (2026), 2027 club option | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 | $3,300,000 | ARB 3 | FREE AGENT | ||||
| Jacob Webb | 32.6 | 5.046 | 1 yr, $1.5M (2026), 2027 club option | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 | $2,500,000 | ||||||
| Tyler Austin | 34.6 | 2.151 | 1 yr, $1.25M (2026); split contract: $400k in minors | $1,250,000 | $1,250,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Shelby Miller | 35.5 | 10.016 | 2 yr, $2.5M (2026-27), 2028 club option | $1,250,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,250,000 | $2,500,000 | |||||
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | 24.0 | 1.170 | 1 yr, $894k (2026); 6 yr, $115M (2027-32) | $894,000 | $894,000 | $10,833,333 | $10,833,333 | $10,833,333 | $20,833,333 | $30,833,333 | $30,833,333 |
| Player | Age | Service Time | Contract | Info | AAV | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Bregman | 32.0 | 9.070 | 5 yr, $175M (2026-30); deferrals lower AAV | $30,893,902 | $35,000,000 | $35,000,000 | $35,000,000 | $35,000,000 | $35,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||
| Dansby Swanson | 32.2 | 9.047 | 7 yr, $177M (2023-29) | $25,285,714 | $28,000,000 | $28,000,000 | $27,000,000 | $26,000,000 | FREE AGENT | |||
| Shota Imanaga | 32.6 | 2.000 | 1 yr, $22.025M (2026) | $22,025,000 | $22,025,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Ian Happ | 31.7 | 8.036 | 3 yr, $61M (2024-26) | $20,333,333 | $19,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Seiya Suzuki | 31.6 | 4.000 | 5 yr, $85M (2022-26) | $17,000,000 | $19,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Jameson Taillon | 34.4 | 9.110 | 4 yr, $68M (2023-26) | $17,000,000 | $18,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Matthew Boyd | 35.2 | 9.057 | 2 yr, $29M (2025-26), 2027 mutual option | $14,500,000 | $17,000,000 | $15,000,000 | ||||||
| Nico Hoerner | 28.9 | 6.014 | 3 yr, $35M (2024-26); 6 yr, $141M (2027-32); deferrals lower AAV | $11,666,667 | $12,000,000 | $23,833,333 | $23,833,333 | $23,333,333 | $23,333,333 | $23,333,333 | $23,333,333 | |
| Phil Maton | 33.0 | 8.047 | 2 yr, $14.5M (2026-27), 2028 club option | $7,250,000 | $5,500,000 | $6,000,000 | $8,500,000 | |||||
| Colin Rea | 35.8 | 6.057 | 1 yr, $6.5M (2026), 2027 club option | $6,500,000 | $5,500,000 | $7,500,000 | ||||||
| Hunter Harvey | 31.3 | 6.047 | 1 yr, $6M (2026), 2027 mutual option | $6,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $8,000,000 | ||||||
| Carson Kelly | 31.7 | 7.161 | 2 yr, $11.5M (2025-26), 2027 mutual option | $5,750,000 | $5,000,000 | $7,500,000 | ||||||
| Caleb Thielbar | 39.2 | 7.131 | 1 yr, $4.5M (2026), 2027 mutual option | $4,500,000 | $4,000,000 | $6,000,000 | ||||||
| Hoby Milner | 35.2 | 6.068 | 1 yr, $3.75M (2026) | $3,750,000 | $3,750,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Dylan Carlson | 27.5 | 5.067 | 1 yr, $2M (2026) | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Michael Conforto | 33.1 | 9.043 | 1 yr, $2M (2026) | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Javier Assad | 28.7 | 3.027 | 1 yr, $1.8M (2026), 2027 club option | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 | $3,300,000 | ARB 3 | FREE AGENT | ||||
| Jacob Webb | 32.6 | 5.046 | 1 yr, $1.5M (2026), 2027 club option | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 | $2,500,000 | ||||||
| Tyler Austin | 34.6 | 2.151 | 1 yr, $1.25M (2026); split contract: $400k in minors | $1,250,000 | $1,250,000 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Shelby Miller | 35.5 | 10.016 | 2 yr, $2.5M (2026-27), 2028 club option | $1,250,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,250,000 | $2,500,000 | |||||
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | 24.0 | 1.170 | 1 yr, $894k (2026); 6 yr, $115M (2027-32) | $894,000 | $894,000 | $10,833,333 | $10,833,333 | $10,833,333 | $20,833,333 | $30,833,333 | $30,833,333 |
Players Eligible For Arbitration▼
| Player | Age | Service Time | Contract | Info | AAV | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Steele | 30.7 | 4.143 | 1 yr, $6.775M (2026) | $6,775,000 | ARB 4 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Edward Cabrera | 28.0 | 3.147 | 1 yr, $4.45M (2026) | $4,450,000 | ARB 3 | ARB 4 | FREE AGENT |
| Player | Age | Service Time | Contract | Info | AAV | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Steele | 30.7 | 4.143 | 1 yr, $6.775M (2026) | $6,775,000 | ARB 4 | FREE AGENT | ||||||
| Edward Cabrera | 28.0 | 3.147 | 1 yr, $4.45M (2026) | $4,450,000 | ARB 3 | ARB 4 | FREE AGENT |
Notable Players Not Yet Eligible For Arbitration▼
| Player | Age | Service Time | Contract | Info | AAV | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miguel Amaya | 27.1 | 2.130 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | FREE AGENT | ||||
| Michael Busch | 28.4 | 2.045 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | FREE AGENT | ||||
| Daniel Palencia | 26.2 | 1.154 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | ARB 4 | FREE AGENT | |||
| Cade Horton | 24.6 | 1.000 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | Pre-ARB | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | FREE AGENT | |||
| Matt Shaw | 24.4 | 0.162 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | Pre-ARB | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | ARB 4 | FREE AGENT | ||
| Moisés Ballesteros | 22.4 | 0.030 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | Pre-ARB | Pre-ARB | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | FREE AGENT | ||
| Estimated salaries for other pre-arbitration players | $8,580,000 | |||||||||||
| Player | Age | Service Time | Contract | Info | AAV | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miguel Amaya | 27.1 | 2.130 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | FREE AGENT | ||||
| Michael Busch | 28.4 | 2.045 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | FREE AGENT | ||||
| Daniel Palencia | 26.2 | 1.154 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | ARB 4 | FREE AGENT | |||
| Cade Horton | 24.6 | 1.000 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | Pre-ARB | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | FREE AGENT | |||
| Matt Shaw | 24.4 | 0.162 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | Pre-ARB | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | ARB 4 | FREE AGENT | ||
| Moisés Ballesteros | 22.4 | 0.030 | 1 yr, TBD (2026) | TBD | Pre-ARB | Pre-ARB | ARB 1 | ARB 2 | ARB 3 | FREE AGENT | ||
| Estimated salaries for other pre-arbitration players | $8,580,000 | |||||||||||
Other Payments▼
| Description | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ owed to NYY (Cody Bellinger trade) | $2,500,000 | ||||||
| $ due for buyout of Justin Turner | $2,000,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Matthew Boyd | $2,000,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Carson Kelly | $1,500,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Colin Rea | $1,000,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Hunter Harvey | $1,000,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Caleb Thielbar | $500,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Phil Maton | $3,000,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Shelby Miller | $250,000 | ||||||
| Estimated Payroll | $232,630,000 | $110,916,667 | $99,916,667 | $95,166,667 | $79,166,667 | $54,166,667 | $54,166,667 |
| Description | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ owed to NYY (Cody Bellinger trade) | $2,500,000 | ||||||
| $ due for buyout of Justin Turner | $2,000,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Matthew Boyd | $2,000,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Carson Kelly | $1,500,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Colin Rea | $1,000,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Hunter Harvey | $1,000,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Caleb Thielbar | $500,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Phil Maton | $3,000,000 | ||||||
| $ due for potential buyout of Shelby Miller | $250,000 | ||||||
| Estimated Payroll | $232,630,000 | $110,916,667 | $99,916,667 | $95,166,667 | $79,166,667 | $54,166,667 | $54,166,667 |
Totals for estimated payrolls include potential buyouts and earned buyout escalators — but not option total or earned option escalator — for pending options
Other Payments (Luxury Tax)▼
| Description | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Kittredge AAV adjustment (credited for unpaid buyout, prorated to time with team) | -$317,204 | ||||||
| Colin Rea AAV adjustment (credited for unpaid buyout) | -$750,000 |
| Description | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Kittredge AAV adjustment (credited for unpaid buyout, prorated to time with team) | -$317,204 | ||||||
| Colin Rea AAV adjustment (credited for unpaid buyout) | -$750,000 |
Luxury Tax Payroll Estimate▼
| Description | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAVs for players with guaranteed contracts (does not include players no longer on 40-man roster) | $202,254,616 | $106,701,757 | $98,201,757 | $98,201,757 | $72,916,043 | $42,022,141 | $42,022,141 |
| Salaries for players eligible for arbitration | $11,225,000 | ||||||
| AAVs for players with guaranteed contracts no longer on the 40-man roster | |||||||
| Earned incentives and escalators | |||||||
| Sum of Other Payments (does not include potential buyouts) | $2,500,000 | ||||||
| Sum of Other Payments (Luxury Tax Only) | -$1,067,204 | ||||||
| Estimated salaries for players not yet eligible for arbitration and other players with non-guaranteed contracts | $8,580,000 | ||||||
| Estimated salaries for 40-man roster players in minor leagues | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 |
| Estimated player benefits to be paid | $18,000,000 | $18,500,000 | $19,000,000 | $19,500,000 | $20,000,000 | $20,500,000 | $21,000,000 |
| Payment into $50M pre-arbitration bonus pool | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 |
| Estimated Luxury Tax Payroll | $245,659,079 | $129,368,424 | $121,368,424 | $121,868,424 | $97,082,710 | $66,688,808 | $67,188,808 |
| Description | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 | 2032 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAVs for players with guaranteed contracts (does not include players no longer on 40-man roster) | $202,254,616 | $106,701,757 | $98,201,757 | $98,201,757 | $72,916,043 | $42,022,141 | $42,022,141 |
| Salaries for players eligible for arbitration | $11,225,000 | ||||||
| AAVs for players with guaranteed contracts no longer on the 40-man roster | |||||||
| Earned incentives and escalators | |||||||
| Sum of Other Payments (does not include potential buyouts) | $2,500,000 | ||||||
| Sum of Other Payments (Luxury Tax Only) | -$1,067,204 | ||||||
| Estimated salaries for players not yet eligible for arbitration and other players with non-guaranteed contracts | $8,580,000 | ||||||
| Estimated salaries for 40-man roster players in minor leagues | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 | $2,500,000 |
| Estimated player benefits to be paid | $18,000,000 | $18,500,000 | $19,000,000 | $19,500,000 | $20,000,000 | $20,500,000 | $21,000,000 |
| Payment into $50M pre-arbitration bonus pool | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 | $1,666,667 |
| Estimated Luxury Tax Payroll | $245,659,079 | $129,368,424 | $121,368,424 | $121,868,424 | $97,082,710 | $66,688,808 | $67,188,808 |
Totals for estimated luxury tax payrolls include potential buyouts and earned buyout escalators — but not option total or earned option escalators — for pending options
LUXURY TAX EXPLANATION AND OTHER PAYROLL NOTES
- The luxury tax thresholds for 2026 are $244M, $264M, $284M, $304M, with increasingly sharp penalties for surpassing each threshold.
- The average annual value (AAV) of guaranteed contracts is included, not what the player is actually being paid that year. The AAV of contracts with deferrals is lower due to the payout structure and is based on the inflation rate stated in the contract, but unless the exact AAV as calculated by the league is publicly reported, the AAV is calculated as it would be without deferrals.
- Other payments, such as money to and from other teams, are included. Buyouts of contract options are included in the initial AAV. If a contract option is exercised, the team is credited the value of the buyout on their CBT calculation for the option year.
- Players no longer on the 40-man roster are included in all cases, regardless of whether they were optioned or released.
- Salaries for all players on the 40-man roster, even salaries earned while in the minor leagues, are included.
- Player benefits include health insurance, transportation, meal money, and other non-salary payments for all 40-man roster players.
- The "estimated salaries for players not yet eligible for arbitration" figure (which is included in luxury tax and "actual" payroll) presumes that, when factoring IL time, each team will need to pay for at least 34 player-seasons over the course of the regular season. This number is calculated by subtracting the number of guaranteed and arbitration-year contracts from 34 (the number of player-seasons) and then multiplying the number that remains (typically around 10-15) by the league minimum salary.
- The league minimum salary for 2026 is $780k.
- For a player acquired during the current season, the AAV factored into the luxury tax is based on the amount of time left in the current season at the time of acquisition. AAVs for contracts with multiple years remaining are recalculated; the AAV calculation for the new team is based on the remaining money to be paid (less signing bonuses, always paid by the original first team) divided by the remaining years. If the original team ends up effectively paying less AAV than the original contract called for, they will be credited the difference, prorated over the remaining years of the contract.
