Baltimore shortstop Gunnar Henderson is set to receive the highest amount from this season's $50 million pre-arbitration bonus pool based on his regular-season performance. According to WAR calculations through July 7, Henderson is projected to receive $1,325,021, leading the list of players.
Following Henderson, Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is expected to receive $1,192,410, with Cincinnati shortstop Elly De La Cruz at $846,669, Cleveland outfielder Steven Kwan at $820,588, Boston outfielder Jarren Duran at $711,444, and right-hander Tanner Houck at $658,258.
Notably, players like Witt, De La Cruz, Henderson, Kwan, Duran, Houck, and others have been selected to participate in the upcoming All-Star Game.
The pre-arbitration bonus pool was established as part of the 2022 collective bargaining agreement to provide additional compensation to players who do not yet qualify for salary arbitration. A total of 100 players will benefit from this pool, with a service time cutoff of 2 years and 118 days of major league experience.
It is important to note that foreign professional signees are not eligible for these bonuses. The distribution of funds is based on a formula agreed upon by a management-union committee, with a significant portion allocated based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) metrics.
Additionally, a portion of the pool will be allocated to award winners, with MVP or Cy Young Award recipients earning $2.5 million, and other accolades such as Rookie of the Year and All-MLB team selections also receiving monetary rewards.
Overall, the pre-arbitration bonus pool serves as a mechanism to provide financial support to young players in the league, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their contributions to the sport.
