Pirates Reportedly Avoid Arbitration By Reaching Deals With 4 Players
The Pittsburgh Pirates won’t go to arbitration this offseason after reportedly reaching agreements with all eligible players.
Pittsburgh avoided arbitration with four players before Thursday’s deadline. Oneil Cruz , Dennis Santana , Joey Bart and Justin Lawrene will return in 2026 without an arbitration hearing determining their salary.
FanSided’s Robert Murray reported that the Pirates and Cruz agreed to a $3.3 million contract for his first of three arbitration-eligible years. MLB Trade Rumors projected a $3.6 million deal for the toolsy outfielder.
MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf reported the three other one-year deals. Santana agreed to a $3.5 million contract, Bart signed for $2.53 million and Lawrence signed for $1.225 million .
Cruz might have netted a better payday if he played up to his immense upside, but he paired his 20 home runs and 38 stolen bases with a .200/.298/.378 slash line and career-worst 86 weighted runs created plus. The 6-foot-7 masher batted .177 with four homers in 50 second-half games and registered a troubling .400 OPS against left-handed pitchers, making 2026 a pivotal season for the 27-year-old.
Santana emerged as Pittsburgh’s most reliable relief pitcher, recording a 2.18 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 70 appearances. The right-hander slid seamlessly into the closer role after the Pirates traded David Bednar , tallying 16 saves. He earned a raise over last season’s $1.4 million salary and has one more year of arbitration eligibility remaining.
Lawrence spent most of the 2025 season sidelined with a right elbow injury, but he excelled when healthy. The 31-year-old reliever allowed just one run over 17 1/3 innings, notching 23 strikeouts to eight walks and nine hits.
After showing signs of a post-hype breakout in 2024, Bart’s power backslid with just four home runs in 332 plate appearances. The catcher nevertheless wielded a 1.3 fWAR for the second straight season on the strength of a .355 on-base percentage buoyed by a career-high 12.0 walk percentage.
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