MJ Melendez

Kansas City Royals, Left Field
Age: 26y-0m-23d (Nov 29, 1998)
Exp: 2.153 Years
Country: US
College: Florida International
Drafted: Round 2 (#52 overall), 2017
2025 Payroll Salary

$2,360,000

2025 Cash

$2,360,000

Career Earnings

$4,182,572

2025-2025 Arbitration (CURRENT)

MJ Melendez signed a 1 year , $2,360,000 contract with the Kansas City Royals, including $2,360,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,360,000. In 2025, Melendez will earn a base salary of $2,360,000, while carrying a total salary of $2,360,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $2,360,000
Average Salary:
$2,360,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2029 / UFA
Year Age Status PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2025 26
Estimate
 $2,360,000 $2,360,000 0.98% $2,360,000 $2,360,000
2026 27
ARB 2
2027 28
ARB 3
2028 29
ARB 4
2029 30
UFA
Year Age Service Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2025 26 2.153
Estimate
 $2,360,000 - - $2,360,000 $2,360,000
2026 27 --
ARB 2
2027 28 --
ARB 3
2028 29 --
ARB 4
2029 30 --
UFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2025 26
Estimate
 $2,360,000 $2,360,000 $2,360,000 - $2,360,000 $2,360,000
Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2024-2024
Pre-Arbitration

MJ Melendez signed a 1 year , $754,750 contract with the Kansas City Royals, including $754,750 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $754,750.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $754,750
Average Salary:
$754,750
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2023-2023
Pre-Arbitration

MJ Melendez signed a 1 year , $726,500 contract with the Kansas City Royals, including $726,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $726,500.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $726,500
Average Salary:
$726,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2022-2022
Pre-Arbitration

MJ Melendez signed a 1 year , $700,000 contract with the Kansas City Royals, including $700,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $700,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $700,000
Average Salary:
$700,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2017-2017 Signing Bonus

MJ Melendez signed a 1 year , $2,097,500 contract with the Kansas City Royals, including $2,097,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,097,500.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $2,097,500
Average Salary:
$2,097,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
To see the rest of the MJ Melendez's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here
Seasons

2.153 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$4,182,572

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2017 18
Signing Bonus
$2,097,500
$2,097,500
2022 23
Active
$603,822
$2,701,322
2023 24
Active
$726,500
$3,427,822
2024 25
Active
$754,750
$4,182,572
Total      
$4,182,572
$4,182,572
2025 26
Active / estimate-arbitration
$2,360,000
Total
$6,542,572

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $2,085,072 $2,097,500 - $4,182,572
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2017
18
$2,097,500
$2,097,500
$2,097,500
2022
23
$603,822
$603,822
$2,701,322
2023
24
$726,500
$726,500
$3,427,822
2024
25
$754,750
$754,750
$4,182,572
Total
$2,085,072
$2,097,500
$4,182,572
$4,182,572
2025
26
$2,360,000
$2,360,000
Total
$4,445,072
$2,097,500
$6,542,572

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $2,085,072 $2,097,500 - $4,182,572

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2024 KC Jul 15, 2024 - Jul 28, 2024 Ankle
  • Mar 01, 2024 Signed a 1 year $754,750 contract with Kansas City (KC)
  • Mar 01, 2023 Signed a 1 year $726,500 contract with Kansas City (KC)
  • May 02, 2022 Promoted from the Minors by Kansas City (KC)
  • Mar 28, 2022 Optioned to the Minors by Kansas City (KC)
  • Nov 19, 2021 Contract purchased by Kansas City (KC)
  • Jun 18, 2017 Signed a contract with Kansas City (KC)
  • Jun 15, 2017 Drafted by Kansas City (KC): Round 2 (#52 overall)
Year Team GP GS PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB K SB AVG OBP SLG OPS WAR
2024 KC 135 118 450 412 44 85 23 3 17 44 165 35 113 4 .206 .273 .400 .673 -0.88
2023 KC 148 141 602 533 65 125 29 5 16 56 212 62 170 6 .235 .316 .398 .714 -0.35
2022 KC 129 124 533 460 57 100 21 3 18 62 181 66 131 2 .217 .313 .393 .706 0.48

Calculated Market Value

$11.8M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 5 years, $59,121,090
  • Avg. Salary: $11,824,218
  • MLB Rank: 134
  • LF Rank: 8

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2029
  • Avg. Salary: $2,360,000
  • MLB Rank: 332
  • LF Rank: 17

Comparable Players

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

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Ian Happ 3 $61,000,000 $20,333,333 28
Randy Arozarena 1 $8,100,000 $8,100,000 28
Alex Verdugo 1 $8,700,000 $8,700,000 27
Andrew Benintendi 5 $75,000,000 $15,000,000 28
Averages 3 $38,200,000 $13,033,333 27.8

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Melendez's current age (26), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
5 $75,996,000 $15,199,200

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Melendez statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, H/Gm, RBI/Gm, K/Gm, AVG/Yr, OPS, WOBP, ISO, WAR

Player GP% H/Gm RBI/Gm K/Gm AVG/Yr OPS WOBP ISO WAR
Ian Happ
2022-2023
 97.53 0.95 0.49 0.96 0.26 0.79 0.36 0.18 3.53
Randy Arozarena
2022-2023
 93.54 0.97 0.57 1.03 0.26 0.78 0.36 0.18 3.11
Alex Verdugo
2022-2023
 90.46 1.05 0.44 0.61 0.27 0.74 0.34 0.14 2.08
Andrew Benintendi
2021-2022
 80.25 1.06 0.48 0.67 0.29 0.77 0.34 0.13 3.50
Average 90.45 1.01 0.50 0.82 0.27 0.77 0.35 0.16 3.06
MJ Melendez
2023-2024
 87.08 0.74 0.35 1.00 0.22 0.69 0.32 0.18 -0.76
Pct Change -3.73 -26.73 -30.00 -21.95 -18.52 -10.00 -9.71 12.50 -124.84
Median Prime % Change -18.52%
Average Prime % Change -25.89%

Calculated Market Value: MJ Melendez

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
5 years, $59,121,090 $11,824,218

FEATURED PLAYER NEWS

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2025 MLB Offseason Contract Breakdowns

Spotrac details the largest free agent signings and contract extensions across MLB throughout the 2025 offseason. READ MORE

TRANSACTIONS

Mar 01, 2024
Signed a 1 year $754,750 contract with Kansas City (KC)
Mar 01, 2023
Signed a 1 year $726,500 contract with Kansas City (KC)
May 02, 2022
Promoted from the Minors by Kansas City (KC)
Mar 28, 2022
Optioned to the Minors by Kansas City (KC)
Nov 19, 2021
Contract purchased by Kansas City (KC)
Jun 18, 2017
Signed a contract with Kansas City (KC)
Jun 15, 2017
Drafted by Kansas City (KC): Round 2 (#52 overall)

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