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These Are Chicago’s Highest-Paid Athletes

By Urbanmatter Chicago @UMatterChicago

25 pros who are bringin’ in the big bucks

Crain’s Chicago Business recently released a list of the 25 highest-paid Chicago athletes, and boy, are there a lot of zeros behind those dollar signs.

From the Bulls to the Bears to the Hawks, Cubs, and Sox, these pro athletes repping Chicago have some pretty incredible contracts. Is your favorite team player listed? See for yourself. The top five alone span almost every team.

#1. Dwayne Wade, Bulls

Photo Credit: Hoops Habit

Photo Credit: Hoops Habit

Total income last year: $35.2 million
Last year’s salary: $23.2 million

D-Wade might be one of the newer Chicago transplants, but his status as an NBA champion already puts him high on any list. It’s not just to our standards. Forbes ranked him as one of the highest-paid on the globe. Wade is a household name, one that hopefully turns the team around for the better.

#2. James Shields, White Sox

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez for USA TODAY Sports, via South Side Showdown

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez for USA TODAY Sports, via South Side Showdown

Total income last year: $21.3 million
Last year’s salary: $21 million

Although this White Sox pitcher impressively holds the second spot, his 2016 trade really didn’t pay off for the team in the long-run. Will he stick around? We’ll see. The California native previously played for Tampa Bay, Kansas City, and San Diego.

#3. Jon Lester, Cubs

chicago's highest paid athletes

Photo Credit: Brian Kersey for UPI

Total income last year: $20.9 million
Last year’s salary: $20.4 million

This Chicago Cubs pitcher has held his spot on the team for a decent amount of time, and as we all know, it definitely paid off in last year’s championship, as we’re sure it did for the rest of the team. The Washington native previously played for Boston and Oakland.

#4. Jimmy Butler, Bulls

Photo Credit: Sporting News / Getty Images

Photo Credit: Sporting News / Getty Images

Total income last year: $17.6 million
Last year’s salary: $16.4 million

After losing both Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah to the New York Knicks last year, most Chicagoans still feel lucky to have Jimmy Butler holding the team down. This young fan favorite renewed his contract in 2015/2016.

#5. John Lackey, Cubs

chicago's highest paid athletes

Photo Credit: Fansided

Total income last year: $16.4 million
Last year’s salary: $16.4 million

This pitcher from the Cubs has a no-nonsense attitude that got him into the big leagues, and he’s got the talent to show for it. The three-time World Series champ who hails from Texas can surely take some credit for our 2016 win.

Complete list of top 25 athletes:

#6. Jay Cutler, Bears

Total income last year: $16.4 million
Last year’s salary: $16 million

#7. Jason Heyward, Cubs

Total income last year: $15.7 million
Last year’s salary: $15.4 million

#8. Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks

Total income last year: $15.1 million
Last year’s salary: $13.8 million

#9. Patrick Kane, Blackhawks

Total income last year: $14.9 million
Last year’s salary: $13.8 million

#10. Rajon Rondo, Bulls

Total income last year: $14.6 million
Last year’s salary: $14 million

#11. Miguel Montero, Cubs

Total income last year: $14.6 million
Last year’s salary: $14.4 million

#12. Melky Cabrera, White Sox

Total income last year: $14.2 million
Last year’s salary: $14 million

#13. Robin Lopez, Bulls

Total income last year: $13.3 million
Last year’s salary: $13.2 million

#14. Kyle Long, Bears

Total income last year: $13 million
Last year’s salary: $12.5 million

#15. Ben Zobrist, Cubs

Total income last year: $12.9 million
Last year’s salary: $12.4 million

#16. Jake Arrieta, Cubs

Total income last year: $11.7 million
Last year’s salary: $11 million

#17. Alshon Jeffery, Bears

Total income last year: $11.4 million
Last year’s salary: $11.2 million

#18. David Robertson, White Sox

Total income last year: $11.1 million
Last year’s salary: $11 million

#19. Jose Abreu, White Sox

Total income last year: $10.3 million
Last year’s salary: $10 million

#20. Leonard Floyd, Bears

Total income last year: $10.2 million
Last year’s salary: $10.1 million

#21. Danny Trevathan, Bears

Total income last year: $10.1 million
Last year’s salary: $10.1 million

#22. Taj Gibson, Bulls

Total income last year: $9.4 million
Last year’s salary: $9 million

#23. Brent Seabrook, Blackhawks

Total income last year: $9.1 million
Last year’s salary: $9 million

#24. Todd Frazier, White Sox

Total income last year: $7.8 million
Last year’s salary: $7.5 million

#25. Pernell McPhee, Bears

Total income last year: $7.2 million
Last year’s salary: $7.2 million

Source: Original article by Crain’s Chicago Business

Featured Photo Credits: Sporting News / Getty ImagesBrian Kersey for UPI


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