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, had a salary of $875,000 in the Major Leagues, plus 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, who received $3,077,595 in the 2024 season. This annual bonus 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. Below are Hunter Brown (Houston Astros) with $2,206,538, Bryan Woo (Seattle Mariners) with $1,540,676, and Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks) with $1,341,674, according to data compiled by Major League Baseball and the players’ association. Other players who surpassed one million dollars in bonuses are Nick Kurtz (Athletics), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Chicago Cubs), Drake Baldwin (Athletics), Brice Turang (Milwaukee Brewers), and Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays). Milwaukee 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 most money in bonuses, followed by Pittsburgh and the Athletics. Several of the players who received bonuses have long-term contracts, including Carroll, Sánchez, outfielders Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela and pitcher Brayan Bello (Boston Red Sox), outfielder Jackson Chourio and pitcher Aaron Ashby (Milwaukee), pitcher Tanner Bibee (Cleveland Guardians), infielder Colt Keith (Detroit) and outfielder Jackson Merrill (San Diego Padres). A total of 101 players will receive payments under this plan, which aims to provide more income to players without the service time needed to be eligible for salary arbitration at the start of the season, which is two years and 132 days. 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 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.
