7. Jordan Wicks: 2024 salary of $770,000
A first-round pick in the 2021 draft, Jordan Wicks became yet another home-grown arm to make his way to the majors for the Cubs last year. A soft-tosser who relies on his changeup, Wicks made a big impact in his first major league game where he struck out 9 batters in five innings. Things cooled off a bit for the 24-year-old down the stretch, but he is still regarded as one of the best left-handed pitching prospects in the game.
I'd expect him to start the year in Triple-A after the Imanaga signing, but I'm confident we will see Wicks return at some point during the season. I'm glad he was able to get some major-league exposure when he did so he can adjust and be more prepared next time around to make a larger impact.