In December 2015, Joakim Soria came home. The man Kansas City fans called the ‘Mexicutioner’ signed a 3-year, $25 million fully guaranteed contract with the Royals — the franchise that turned him into one of the American League’s premier closers. It wasn’t a market-breaking deal, but it was a fitting one.
The Contract at a Glance
- Team: Kansas City Royals
- Signed: December 7, 2015
- Length: 3 years (2016–2018)
- Total guaranteed value: $25 million
- Average annual value: $8.33 million
How the Deal Was Structured
The contract covered the 2016, 2017, and 2018 seasons at an average of $8.33 million per year. It was 100% guaranteed — no opt-outs, no escape clauses. Soria would collect every dollar regardless of injuries or performance dips. In MLB free agency, full guarantees are standard, and this one reflected the Royals’ confidence in their returning closer to hold his own for the full three years.
Where This Deal Ranks
Soria’s $25 million contract doesn’t crack any list of the richest deals in MLB history — not by total value, not by average annual salary. For a reliever in 2015, it was a solid, respectable number, but it was never meant to reshape the market. His currency was consistency, not headline figures.
His Earlier Contracts
- Kansas City Royals (2006): $50,000 — selected in the Rule 5 Draft, his entry into the big leagues
- Kansas City Royals (2009–2011): Terms not disclosed — an extension that kept him with the team as their star closer
- Detroit Tigers (2014–2015): Terms not disclosed — signed as a free agent after leaving Kansas City
- Kansas City Royals (2015): $25 million / 3 years — the homecoming deal
Career Earnings
Adding up all known MLB contracts, Soria earned at least $25.1 million in guaranteed money during his big-league career. That figure covers base salary, signing bonuses, and collected performance bonuses from MLB contracts only — it doesn’t include endorsements or any money from leagues outside the United States.
Soria retired in 2021 after a career that spanned parts of 15 seasons. He started as a $50,000 Rule 5 pick and finished as one of the most respected Mexican relievers in the game’s modern era.
