Pirates Arbitration Projections: Raises Coming, Non-Tender Candidates

Danny Demilio |

Oct 7, 2025

Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates — Photo provided by Matt Lynch

As was the case entering last offseason, the Pittsburgh Pirates have nine players who are arbitration-eligible this offseason.

The most notable of the bunch is center fielder Oneil Cruz, who is due the largest salary of the bunch, according to Matt Schwartz via MLBTradeRumors.com. Cruz, a first-time eligible player, is projected to earn $3.6 million.

Cruz, who turned 27 years old over the weekend, finished the season with a disappointing .200/.298/.378 batting line but led the National League with 38 stolen bases and was tops among Pirates players with 20 home runs.

Sticking with the position players, catcher Joey Bart and outfielder Jack Suwinski are also eligible for salary arbitration this winter. Bart went through the process for the first time a year ago and is projected to see his salary increase from $1.18 million in 2025 to $2.7 million next season. Suwinski, who was pre-arb in 2025, is pegged at $1.7 million as a first-time eligible player.

The Pirates also have six right-handed pitchers eligible for arbitration — Dennis Santana, Johan Oviedo, Justin Lawrence, Yohan Ramírez, Colin Holderman and Dauri Moreta.

Santana is eligible for arbitration one more time before he hits free agency at the end of the 2026 season. MLBTR projects the Pirates’ closer to earn $3.4 million next season, a raise of $2 million from 2025.

Oviedo, who returned from Tommy John surgery this year, is projected for $2 million, more than double the $850,000 he earned in 2025.

Ramírez and Lawrence are both projected for $1.2 million. Of the first-time eligible relievers, Holderman’s estimated salary is the richest at $1.7 million. Moreta, meanwhile, is projected for just $800,000.

Non-Tender Candidates

Of the Pirates’ nine players who are eligible for salary arbitration, a case could be made that five of them are candidates to be non-tendered.

Cruz, despite a frustrating season, will be tendered a contract. Santana is a no-brainer. Oviedo and Moreta, both back after missing the entire 2024 season, should also play into the Pirates’ 2026 plans.

I don’t see the Pirates bringing back Suwinski, especially at what he’s forecasted to earn via arbitration. Ramírez is also one likely to be non-tendered, and Holderman, despite showing flashes at times, is another candidate given his inconsistency and injury issues.

Bart and Lawrence are both interesting cases to me. The Pirates have a trio of young catchers in Henry Davis, Rafael Flores and Endy Rodríguez — who is expected back after a second elbow surgery — as options behind the plate. Though Bart finished the season strong, he took a step back from what he showed in 2024.

Personally, I would bring back Lawrence if his ask is around what Schwartz projected him to get. Although he missed most of the season with an injury, when he was on the mound, he looked really, really good. I’d want to get a longer look at him.