Justin Steele

Chicago Cubs, Starting Pitcher
Age: 29-112d (Jul 11, 1995)
Exp: 3.143 Years
Country: US
Drafted: Round 5 (#139 overall), 2014
Agent(s): Wasserman
2025 Payroll Salary

$7,950,000

2025 Cash

$7,950,000

Career Earnings

$8,577,868

2025-2025 Arbitration (CURRENT)

Justin Steele signed a 1 year , $7,950,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $7,950,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $7,950,000. In 2025, Steele will earn a base salary of $7,950,000, while carrying a total salary of $7,950,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $7,950,000
Average Salary:
$7,950,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2028 / UFA
Year Age Status PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2025 29
Estimate
 $7,950,000 $7,950,000 3.30% $7,950,000 $7,950,000
2026 30
ARB 3
2027 31
ARB 4
2028 32
UFA
Year Age Service Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2025 29 3.143
Estimate
 $7,950,000 - - $7,950,000 $7,950,000
2026 30 --
ARB 3
2027 31 --
ARB 4
2028 32 --
UFA
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2025 29
Estimate
 $7,950,000 $7,950,000 $7,950,000 $7,950,000 $7,950,000
Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2024-2024 Arbitration

Justin Steele signed a 1 year , $4,000,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $4,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $4,000,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $4,000,000
Average Salary:
$4,000,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2028 / UFA
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2023-2023 Pre-Arb

Justin Steele signed a 1 year , $740,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $740,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $740,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $740,000
Average Salary:
$740,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2022-2022 Pre-Arb

Justin Steele signed a 1 year , $705,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $705,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $705,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $705,000
Average Salary:
$705,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2021-2021 Pre-Arb

Justin Steele signed a 1 year , $570,500 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $570,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $570,500.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $570,500
Average Salary:
$570,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2020-2020 Pre-Arb

Justin Steele signed a 1 year , $563,500 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $563,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $563,500.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $563,500
Average Salary:
$563,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
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2019-2019 Pre-Arb

Justin Steele signed a 1 year , $555,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $555,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $555,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $555,000
Average Salary:
$555,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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2014-2014 Signing Bonus

Justin Steele signed a 1 year , $1,000,000 contract with the Chicago Cubs, including $1,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,000,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,000,000
Average Salary:
$1,000,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Spotrac Premium Tools
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Seasons

3.143 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$8,577,868

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2014 18
Signing Bonus
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
2019 23
Reserve / minor-buried
$45,300
$1,045,300
2020 24
Reserve / minor-buried
$12,460
$1,057,760
2021 25
Active
$401,777
$1,459,537
2022 26
Injured
$705,000
$2,164,537
2023 27
Active
$2,413,331
$4,577,868
2024 28
Active / Arb Avoided
$4,000,000
$8,577,868
Total      
$8,577,868
$8,577,868
2025 29
Active / estimate-arbitration
$7,950,000
Total
$16,527,868

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
7 $5,904,537 $1,000,000 $1,673,331 $8,577,868
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2014
18
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
2019
23
$45,300
$45,300
$1,045,300
2020
24
$12,460
$12,460
$1,057,760
2021
25
$401,777
$401,777
$1,459,537
2022
26
$705,000
$705,000
$2,164,537
2023
27
$740,000
$1,673,331
$2,413,331
$4,577,868
2024
28
$4,000,000
$4,000,000
$8,577,868
Total
$5,904,537
$1,000,000
$1,673,331
$8,577,868
$8,577,868
2025
29
$7,950,000
$7,950,000
Total
$13,854,537
$1,000,000
$1,673,331
$16,527,868

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
7 $5,904,537 $1,000,000 $1,673,331 $8,577,868

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2024 CHC Sep 01, 2024 - Sep 18, 2024 Elbow
2024 CHC Mar 30, 2024 - May 06, 2024 Hamstring
2023 CHC Jun 03, 2023 - Jun 17, 2023 Arm
2022 CHC Sep 05, 2022 - Oct 05, 2022 Back
2021 CHC May 21, 2021 - Jul 08, 2021 Hamstring
  • Jan 11, 2024 Signed a 1 year $4 million contract with Chicago (CHC), avoiding arbitration
  • Mar 01, 2023 Signed a 1 year $740,000 contract with Chicago (CHC)
  • Mar 01, 2022 Signed a 1 year $705,000 contract with Chicago (CHC)
  • Mar 05, 2019 Signed a 1 year $555,000 contract with Chicago (CHC)
  • Nov 20, 2018 Contract purchased by Chicago (CHC)
  • Jun 19, 2014 Signed a contract with Chicago (CHC)
  • Jun 06, 2014 Drafted by Chicago (CHC): Round 5 (#139 overall)
Year Team GP GS H R ER BB K HR W L SV IP ERA WHIP WAR
2024 CHC 24 24 111 54 46 37 135 12 5 5 0 134.7 3.07 1.10 1.92
2023 CHC 30 30 167 71 59 36 176 14 16 5 0 173.3 3.06 1.17 3.74
2022 CHC 24 24 111 53 42 50 126 8 4 7 0 119.0 3.18 1.35 2.11
2021 CHC 20 9 50 29 27 27 59 12 4 4 0 57.0 4.26 1.35 0.58

Calculated Market Value

$19.9M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 3 years, $59,642,655
  • Avg. Salary: $19,880,885
  • MLB Rank: 56
  • SP Rank: 17

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2028
  • Avg. Salary: $7,950,000
  • MLB Rank: 179
  • SP Rank: 66

Comparable Players

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

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Framber Valdez 1 $12,100,000 $12,100,000 29
Shane Bieber 1 $13,125,000 $13,125,000 28
Marcus Stroman 2 $37,000,000 $18,500,000 32
Joe Musgrove 5 $100,000,000 $20,000,000 29
Averages 2 $40,556,250 $15,931,250 29.5

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Steele's current age (29), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
3 $57,329,412 $19,109,804

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Steele statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GS/Yr, IP, K/9, BB/9, ERA, WHIP, FIP, WAR

Player GS/Yr IP K/9 BB/9 ERA WHIP FIP WAR
Framber Valdez
2022-2023
 31.00 6.44 8.88 2.80 3.14 1.14 3.28 3.55
Shane Bieber
2022-2023
 26.00 6.31 8.22 2.00 3.34 1.14 3.38 3.46
Marcus Stroman
2022-2023
 25.00 5.29 7.78 2.88 3.73 1.20 3.67 2.92
Joe Musgrove
2021-2022
 30.50 5.18 9.62 2.38 3.06 1.08 3.64 3.99
Average 28.13 5.81 8.63 2.52 3.32 1.14 3.49 3.48
Justin Steele
2023-2024
 27.00 5.70 9.08 2.17 3.07 1.13 3.12 3.56
Pct Change -4.02 -1.89 5.21 13.89 7.53 0.88 10.60 2.30
Median Prime % Change 3.76%
Average Prime % Change 4.31%

Calculated Market Value: Justin Steele

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
3 years, $59,642,655 $19,880,885

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TRANSACTIONS

Jan 11, 2024
Signed a 1 year $4 million contract with Chicago (CHC), avoiding arbitration
Mar 01, 2023
Signed a 1 year $740,000 contract with Chicago (CHC)
Mar 01, 2022
Signed a 1 year $705,000 contract with Chicago (CHC)
Mar 05, 2019
Signed a 1 year $555,000 contract with Chicago (CHC)
Nov 20, 2018
Contract purchased by Chicago (CHC)
Jun 19, 2014
Signed a contract with Chicago (CHC)
Jun 06, 2014
Drafted by Chicago (CHC): Round 5 (#139 overall)

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