Paul Skenes Sets New 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 brings his total to $5,588,400 in two years, thanks to the initiative that seeks to direct more funds to outstanding young players.
Skenes, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher who debuted in May 2024, had a salary of $875,000 in the Major Leagues, plus the $564,946 he earned last 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, who received $3,077,595 for the 2024 season. This bonus program, with an annual pool 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.
Hunter Brown of the Houston Astros followed with $2,206,538, Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners with $1,540,676, and Corbin Carroll, outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, with $1,341,674, according to data compiled by Major League Baseball and the players’ association.
Other players who surpassed $1 million in bonuses include Nick Kurtz, Athletics first baseman, with $1,297,017; Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs outfielder, with $1,206,207; Drake Baldwin, Athletics catcher, with $1,175,583; Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers second baseman, with $1,155,884; and Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman, with $1,068,739.
Milwaukee became the first team with up to 10 players receiving bonuses in a year. The Detroit Tigers and the Miami Marlins tied for second place with six players each. Brewers players accumulated the most money in bonuses, totaling $4,742,392, followed by Pittsburgh 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 and Ceddanne Rafaela (Boston Red Sox outfielders), Brayan Bello (Boston Red Sox pitcher), Jackson Chourio and Aaron Ashby (Milwaukee Brewers pitcher), Tanner Bibee (Cleveland Guardians pitcher), Colt Keith (Detroit Tigers infielder) and Jackson Merrill (San Diego Padres outfielder).
A total of 101 players will receive payments under this plan, which aims to provide more money to players who do not have enough service time to be eligible for salary arbitration at the start of the season, which was two years and 132 days of service. Players signed as foreign professionals are not eligible.
Eighteen players earned bonuses based on 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, fifth place or 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.
