Paul Skenes Sets Pre-Arbitration Bonus Record
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes has set a new record by receiving $3,436,343 from this year’s pre-arbitration bonus pool. This sum raises his two-year total to $5,588,400, thanks to the initiative that seeks to reward young talents. Skenes, a 23-year-old right-hander who debuted in May 2024, earned a salary of $875,000 in the Major Leagues, in addition to the $564,946 he earned the previous year. He will not be eligible for salary arbitration until after the 2026 season.The previous record was held by Bobby Witt Jr., shortstop for the Kansas City Royals, with $3,077,595 in the 2024 season. This annual fund of $50 million was agreed upon by MLB and the players’ union in March 2022.
Cristopher Sanchez, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, ranked second this year with $2,678,437, after obtaining a bonus of $576,282 in 2024. Other notable players on the list include Hunter Brown of the Houston Astros ($2,206,538), Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners ($1,540,676) and Corbin Carroll, outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks ($1,341,674), according to data compiled by Major League Baseball and the players association. Also surpassing one million dollars were Nick Kurtz, first baseman for the Athletics ($1,297,017), Pete Crow-Armstrong, outfielder for the Chicago Cubs ($1,206,207), Drake Baldwin, catcher for the Athletics ($1,175,583), Brice Turang, second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers ($1,155,884) and Junior Caminero, third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays ($1,068,739). The Milwaukee Brewers became the first team with 10 players receiving bonuses in the same year. The Detroit Tigers and the Miami Marlins tied for second place with six players each. Brewers players accumulated the highest total bonus amount, with $4,742,392, followed by the Pirates with $4,362,309 and the Athletics with $3,103,411. Several of the players who received bonuses have long-term contracts, including Carroll, Sánchez, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Brayan Bello of the Boston Red Sox, Jackson Chourio and Aaron Ashby of the Milwaukee Brewers, Tanner Bibee of the Cleveland Guardians, Colt Keith of the Detroit Tigers, and Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres. A total of 101 players will receive these payments, as part of a plan that seeks to distribute more money to players without the service time necessary to be eligible for salary arbitration, which was two years and 132 days at the beginning of the season. Players signed as foreign professionals are not eligible. Eighteen players earned bonuses based on individual awards. An eligible player receives $2.5 million for winning the MVP or Cy Young award, $1.75 million for finishing second in the voting, $1.5 million for third place, $1 million for fourth or fifth place or for being selected for the first All-MLB team, $750,000 for the Rookie of the Year award, and $500,000 for finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting or being selected for the second All-MLB team. The All-MLB teams are voted on by fans, media members, broadcasters, former players, and officials. A player is eligible to receive the bonus for an achievement per year, earning only the highest amount. The remaining money is allocated using a WAR formula. Daylen Lile, outfielder for the Washington Nationals, received the smallest bonus, of $150,000. Although he was not among the top 100 by WAR, he finished fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
