John Means

Cleveland Guardians, Starting Pitcher
Age: 31y-9m-27d (Apr 24, 1993)
Exp: 6.007 Years
Country: US
College: West Virginia
Drafted: Round 11 (#331 overall), 2014
Agent(s): Wasserman
2025 Payroll Salary

$1,000,000

2025 Cash

$1,000,000

Career Earnings

$11,634,325

2025-2026 Free Agent (CURRENT)

John Means signed a 1 year, $1,000,000 contract with the Cleveland Guardians, including $1,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,000,000. In 2025, Means will earn a base salary of $1,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $1,000,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,000,000
Average Salary:
$1,000,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2027 / UFA
Year Age Status PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2025 32 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 0.41% $1,000,000 $1,000,000
2026 33
Club
 - $1,000,000 - - $1,000,000
2027 34
UFA
Year Age Service Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2025 32 6.007 $1,000,000 - - $1,000,000 $1,000,000
2026 33 -
Club
 - - - - $1,000,000
2027 34 --
UFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2025 32 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 - $1,000,000 $500,000
2026 33
Club
 - - $1,000,000 - - -
Contract Notes

  • 2026 Innings Pitched
    $75,000 each for 20, 30, 40, 50
    $100,000 each for 60, 70, 80, 90
    $125,000 each for 100, 110, 120, 130
    $150,000 each for 140, 150

Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2024-2024 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $3,325,000
Average Salary:
$3,325,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2025 / UFA
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2022-2023 arbitration-extension-process

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $5,925,000
Average Salary:
$2,962,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2025 / UFA
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2021-2021 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $593,500
Average Salary:
$593,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2020-2020 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $580,000
Average Salary:
$580,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2019-2019 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $555,500
Average Salary:
$555,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2018-2018 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $545,000
Average Salary:
$545,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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Seasons

6.007 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$11,634,325

Earnings w/ Different Teams

2 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Service Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2018 25
0
Active
$20,510
$20,510
2019 26
0.007
Active
$555,500
$576,010
2020 27
1.007
Active
$214,815
$790,825
2021 28
2.007
Active
$593,500
$1,384,325
2022 29
3.007
Active / arbitration-avoided-numbers-exchanged
$2,950,000
$4,334,325
2023 30
4.007
Active / Arbitration 2 Bypassed
$2,975,000
$7,309,325
2024 31
5.007
Injured / Arb Avoided
$3,325,000
$10,634,325
2025 32
6.007
Active
$1,000,000
$11,634,325
Total      
$11,634,325
$11,634,325
Total
$11,634,325

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
7 $10,634,325 - - $10,634,325
1 $1,000,000 - - $1,000,000
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2018
25
$20,510
$20,510
$20,510
2019
26
$555,500
$555,500
$576,010
2020
27
$214,815
$214,815
$790,825
2021
28
$593,500
$593,500
$1,384,325
2022
29
$2,950,000
$2,950,000
$4,334,325
2023
30
$2,975,000
$2,975,000
$7,309,325
2024
31
$3,325,000
$3,325,000
$10,634,325
2025
32
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$11,634,325
Total
$11,634,325
$11,634,325
$11,634,325
Total
$11,634,325
$11,634,325

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
7 $10,634,325 - - $10,634,325
1 $1,000,000 - - $1,000,000

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2024 BAL May 23, 2024 - Sep 29, 2024 Arm
2024 BAL Mar 28, 2024 - May 01, 2024 Elbow
2023 BAL Mar 30, 2023 - Sep 12, 2023 Elbow (Tommy John)
2022 BAL Apr 16, 2022 - Oct 05, 2022 Elbow (Tommy John)
2021 BAL Jun 06, 2021 - Jul 20, 2021 Shoulder
2020 BAL Aug 11, 2020 - Aug 16, 2020 COVID-19
2020 BAL Jul 23, 2020 - Jul 30, 2020 Shoulder
2019 BAL Jul 25, 2019 - Aug 07, 2019 Biceps
2019 BAL Jun 17, 2019 - Jun 28, 2019 Shoulder
  • Feb 17, 2025 Signed a 1 year $1 million contract with Cleveland (CLE), includes 2026 Club option
  • Jan 11, 2024 Signed a 1 year $3.325 million contract with Baltimore (BAL), avoiding arbitration
  • May 21, 2022 Signed a contract extension with Baltimore (BAL), avoiding arbitration
  • Mar 05, 2020 Signed a 1 year $580,000 contract with Baltimore (BAL)
  • Mar 05, 2019 Signed a 1 year $555,500 contract with Baltimore (BAL)
  • Sep 24, 2018 Contract purchased by Baltimore (BAL)
  • Jun 25, 2014 Signed a contract with Baltimore (BAL)
  • Jun 07, 2014 Drafted by Baltimore (BAL): Round 11 (#331 overall)
Year Team GP GS H R ER BB K HR W L SV IP ERA WHIP WAR
2024 BAL 4 4 16 6 6 2 16 2 2 0 0 20.7 2.61 0.87 0.74
2023 BAL 4 4 13 7 7 4 10 4 1 2 0 23.7 2.66 0.72 0.66
2022 BAL 2 2 8 3 3 2 7 0 0 0 0 8.0 3.38 1.25 0.16
2021 BAL 26 26 125 64 59 26 134 30 6 9 0 146.7 3.62 1.03 3.56
2020 BAL 10 9 36 22 22 7 42 12 2 3 0 43.7 4.53 0.99 0.96
2019 BAL 31 27 138 68 62 38 121 23 12 11 0 155.0 3.60 1.14 4.36
2018 BAL 1 0 6 5 5 0 4 1 0 0 0 3.3 13.50 1.80 -0.16

FEATURED PLAYER NEWS

News image
2025 MLB Arbitration Review

17 MLB players exchanged numbers at the January 9th deadline. Spotrac details the results of each case as we conclude the 2025 MLB arbitration period.

TRANSACTIONS

Feb 17, 2025
Signed a 1 year $1 million contract with Cleveland (CLE), includes 2026 Club option
Jan 11, 2024
Signed a 1 year $3.325 million contract with Baltimore (BAL), avoiding arbitration
May 21, 2022
Signed a contract extension with Baltimore (BAL), avoiding arbitration
Mar 05, 2020
Signed a 1 year $580,000 contract with Baltimore (BAL)
Mar 05, 2019
Signed a 1 year $555,500 contract with Baltimore (BAL)
Sep 24, 2018
Contract purchased by Baltimore (BAL)
Jun 25, 2014
Signed a contract with Baltimore (BAL)
Jun 07, 2014
Drafted by Baltimore (BAL): Round 11 (#331 overall)

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