2 biggest Pirates disappointments are due for arbitration raises in 2025

Two of the Pittsburgh Pirates' most disappointing players from the 2024 campaign are in line to get some of the biggest raises among their teammates next year.

The Pirates have nine players who are under team control and therefore eligible for salary arbitration this offseason. According to MLBTradeRumors.com's annual salary projections for arbitration-eligible players in 2025, Pirates right fielder Bryan De La Cruz is projected to earn $4 million – which represents a more than 500% salary increase – in his first year of arbitration.

De La Cruz, acquired by Pittsburgh in a July deadline deal with the Miami Marlins, made $768,000 in 2024. In 44 games for the Pirates, he batted .200 with six doubles, three home runs and 17 RBI, which can't exactly be considered a ringing endorsement for a pay raise.

MLBTR's numbers, though, are based on an algorithm developed by Matt Swartz to project arbitration salaries based on “playing time, position, role, and performance statistics while accounting for inflation.” De La Cruz's projected $3.2 million salary increase is therefore based on his production over the full season between Miami and Pittsburgh, in which he slashed .233/.271/.384 with 25 doubles, 21 home runs and 68 RBI over 149 total games.

Still, given the Pirates' current roster construction and his failure to produce during his brief time in Pittsburgh, De La Cruz's $4 million salary projection may very well be too rich for the Pirates, thereby making him a prime non-tender candidate.

Pirates' David Bednar also in line for significant pay raise in 2025

Right-handed reliever David Bednar is also among the nine Pirates players projected to see major salary increases in arbitration. MLBTR's model projects Bednar's salary to jump from $4.51 million to $6.6 million in his second year of arbitration, the highest salary of any arbitration-eligible Pirates player. That's an increase of $2.09 million, despite the two-time All-Star getting demoted from the closer role after blowing seven save attempts and posting a 5.77 ERA this season.

The 2024 campaign was a major fall from grace for Bednar, who was widely regarded as one of baseball's top relievers from 2021-23. Between his performance this season and the Pirates' infamous reputation for pinching pennies, the club will have a difficult decision to make when it comes to their hometown hero this offseason.

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