Have you ever wondered how the Pittsburgh Pirates are managing their finances as they gear up for the 2026 season? The landscape of their payroll has certainly taken some interesting turns this offseason.
At the beginning of the offseason, there was a buzz that the Pirates were poised to significantly increase their payroll. They reportedly extended a historic contract offer to Kyle Schwarber, aiming to secure a key free agent. However, once Schwarber signed elsewhere, the team shifted focus toward more budget-friendly player options. So, what does their payroll look like as we head into 2026?
As of now, while arbitration settlements are still pending, several guaranteed contracts constitute the majority of the Pirates' payroll commitments. Mitch Keller is currently the highest earner on the team, with a salary of $16.5 million for the 2026 season. This has made him a prime candidate for trade discussions, especially after the recent transaction involving starter Mike Burrows moving to the Astros in exchange for Brandon Lowe. In the upcoming season, Lowe and fellow player Ryan O’Hearn will earn $11.5 million and $14.5 million, respectively, while Bryan Reynolds is set to receive $14 million. Additionally, Gregory Soto’s salary is listed at $7.75 million.
The Pirates have indeed been strategic in making significant acquisitions without drastically inflating their payroll expenses for 2026.
Moreover, the team has a limited number of players eligible for arbitration—only four out of six players, namely Dennis Santana, Oneil Cruz, Joey Bart, and Justin Lawrence, will either negotiate or settle with the organization by January 8. Meanwhile, Jack Suwinski and Yohan Ramirez have successfully avoided arbitration altogether. Given the unpredictable nature of arbitration negotiations, the projected costs for those four players vary. Spotrac estimates this total around $11.6 million, while MLB Trade Rumors suggests it might be slightly lower at $10.9 million.
The remaining roster members will be compensated with standard pre-arbitration salaries, which Spotrac estimates to be about $820,000 each. Interestingly, even the impressive pitcher Paul Skenes is earning less than $1 million, although his performance accolades may lead to additional bonuses—just not at the expense of the Pirates' payroll.
In summary, the Pirates' projected cash payroll is anticipated to fall between $96 and $102 million. It’s worth noting that their tax payroll is marginally higher due to the averaging of long-term contracts like Keller's. This payroll figure aligns closely with what Pittsburgh spent in 2025, which was just shy of $105 million. Nonetheless, it seems plausible that the Pirates may have more signings lined up, signaling a potential rise in their payroll ranking within Major League Baseball.
What do you think about the Pirates' strategy this offseason? Are they smartly managing their resources, or should they take bigger risks to climb the ranks? Share your thoughts!
