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Orioles Pay $9.16 Million to Retired MLB Star on Tuesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated Jul 1, 2025 11:20 AM ET

By now, most MLB fans are familiar with "Bobby Bonilla Day." The former New York Mets star famously secured a deal that pays him over $1.19 million every July 1 through 2035, even though he hasn’t played since 2001. So far, the Mets have paid him over $17 million, with another $10.7 million still to go.

But did you know July 1 is also a big payday for another retired player?

Former Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis is also cashing in. According to Spotrac, "Former 1B Chris Davis secures a $9.16M payment today stemming from two deferral agreements throughout his 7 year, $161M 2016 contract with the #Orioles.

Former 1B Chris Davis secures a $9.16M payment today stemming from two deferral agreements throughout his 7 year, $161M 2016 contract with the #Orioles.

He's set to cash another $31.5M through 2037.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) July 1, 2025

That’s not all. Davis is set to receive an additional $31.5 million in deferred payments through 2037, a staggering sum for a player long removed from action.

Davis, now 39, last played in 2020 where he ended his career with 295 home runs and a .233 batting average. Before his major league debut, he was named Minor League Player of the Year in 2007.

His massive contract was largely based on his monster 2013 season, when he crushed 53 home runs and drove in 138 runs. That year, he finished third in American League MVP voting. Davis also had a big 2015 campaign, hitting 47 homers with 117 RBIs.

But with the power came plenty of strikeouts. Davis had back-to-back seasons with over 200 strikeouts and totaled more than 800 in a four-year span, highlighting his all-or-nothing approach at the plate.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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