Chris Davis’ Contract: Orioles’ Slugger Owed $59 Million In Retirement

Chris Davis won’t be playing for the Baltimore Orioles again, but he’ll still be paid as if he were a member of the roster for a long time. The MLB slugger is owed tens of millions of dollars after announcing his retirement Thursday.

The 2021 season marked the sixth year of Davis’ seven-year, $161 million contract. Baltimore will still pay Davis his 2022 salary, and his deal includes deferred payments through 2037.

Davis will earn the $17 million that he was set to make next season over the course of three years, according to reports. In addition, Davis is owed $3.5 million in deferred salary each year from 2023-2032. Davis will make an annual deferred salary of $1.4 million from 2033-2037.

All of that adds up to $59 million in payments to Davis after the 2021 season.

Chris Davis will still be fully paid for his seven-year, $161 million deal with the #Orioles, even after retirement. The only difference is that next year's salary will be deferred and paid over the next three years.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 12, 2021

According to industry sources, the Orioles will pay all of Chris Davis' salary for the remainder of his contract. However, the $17 million owed in 2022 (not including $6M deferred) will be spread over several years so that the Orioles don't have to pay a lump in 2022.
— Dan Connolly (@danconnolly2016) August 12, 2021

Chris Davis signed a 7 yr, $161M extension w/ the #Orioles in 2016, following 159 HRs in his previous 4 seasons. He’s hit 92 since.

Davis is owed the rest of his $17M salary this year, then $59M from 2023-2037.

He’s a 1st ballot Sports Business HOFer.https://t.co/kejAn73ynv
— Spotrac (@spotrac) August 12, 2021

Through the 2021 season, Davis has generated $118.9 million in career earnings. Davis made his major-league debut with the Texas Rangers in 2008. He joined the Orioles in 2011 and quickly became one of the top home-run hitters in baseball.

After Davis hit 33 home runs in 2012, he led the league with 53 home runs and 138 RBI in the 2013 season. Davis hit an MLB-best 47 homers in 2015 and was rewarded with a massive contract the following winter.

Under his $161 million deal, Davis’ production saw a major decline each year. From 2018-19, Davis hit .172 with 28 total home runs. Davis was limited to 52 at-bats in 2020, and he never took the field in 2021 because of hip surgery.

Davis is set to make $177.9 million.