MLB Teams Face $120M In Arbitration Salaries For 2026 Season

Major League Baseball teams face critical arbitration decisions as numerous players become eligible for salary negotiations in 2026. The Oakland Athletics have five players entering arbitration, including pitchers Ken Waldichuk and Luis Medina, with the latter likely transitioning to a bullpen role due to recovery from Tommy John surgery and roster constraints. The Pittsburgh Pirates have nine arbitration-eligible players, notably catcher Joey Bart and center fielder Oneil Cruz, with projected salary increases reflecting their on-field performance. The Cincinnati Reds must manage a $50 million arbitration payroll across 13 players, balancing budget limitations with key departures like Nick Martinez, while considering which players to tender contracts. The San Diego Padres anticipate $24.4 million in arbitration salaries among seven players, with a history of avoiding arbitration hearings through early agreements, though recent negotiations have been more challenging. These projections, developed through a model analyzing player performance and service time, provide teams and fans insight into the financial landscape shaping MLB rosters for the upcoming season.