Bobby Witt Jr. Tops MLB Pre-Arbitration Bonuses

Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals topped the MLB's pre-arbitration bonus pool this season, earning $3,077,595, followed by Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates at $2,152,057 and Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles at $2,007,178. The $50 million bonus pool rewards top-performing players in their first three years of service time, with a total of 101 players receiving bonuses based on awards voting and a composite version of Wins Above Replacement (WAR). While the system aims to financially support young talent, concerns have been raised regarding the fairness of the distribution process, given the extensive eligibility criteria and variations in WAR calculations. The current labor agreement maintains the pool's value until December 2026, with discussions on possible reforms anticipated as the agreement nears its expiration. Notably, players can receive bonuses even if they have signed long-term contracts, as seen with Witt. The objective of the bonus pool, established in a 2022 labor settlement, is to ensure that highly-performing young players are compensated adequately before they qualify for arbitration.