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 brings 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, after earning $564,946 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 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 players who also received significant bonuses include Hunter Brown of the Houston Astros ($2,206,538), Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners ($1,540,676), and Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks ($1,341,674), according to data compiled by Major League Baseball and the players association.
In addition, 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), surpassed one million dollars.
Milwaukee became the first team with 10 players earning bonuses in a single year. The Detroit Tigers and the Miami Marlins tied for second place with six players each. The Brewers added the most bonus money, with $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, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Brayan Bello of the Boston Red Sox, Jackson Chourio and Aaron Ashby of the 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 payments under this plan designed to provide more income to players without the service time needed for salary arbitration eligibility at the start of the season, which was 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 finishing third, $1 million for finishing fourth or fifth or for being selected to the first All-MLB team, $750,000 for the Rookie of the Year award, $500,000 for finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting or on the second All-MLB team.
The All-MLB teams are voted on by fans, members of the media, 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, despite not being among the top 100 by WAR, finished fifth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
