Cubs’ PCA Could Earn $1.1M from MLB Draft Bonus Pool

MLB’s brightest young stars are in the spotlight, and Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is right at the center of it all. He headlines this year’s recipients of Major League Baseball’s $50 million pre-arbitration bonus pool.

The incentive program, set up under the 2022 collective bargaining agreement, aims to reward exceptional early-career performances. Many rising talents still play on near-minimum salaries, so this pool makes a real difference.

Let’s dig into the players leading the bonus pool earnings. I’ll also explain how the program works and why it matters for MLB’s future.

Pete Crow-Armstrong Tops the Bonus Pool Projections

For Cubs fans, Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 2023 season feels like a breakout on every level. Based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) calculations through July 8, Crow-Armstrong is projected to take home $1,091,102 from MLB’s pre-arbitration bonus pool.

That’s a huge jump from the $342,128 he earned last season. The 21-year-old center fielder’s defensive highlights and clutch hitting have secured him a spot in this year’s All-Star Game—and a pretty lucrative slice of the incentive pot.

War Calculations: The Driving Force

The pre-arbitration bonus allocations rely heavily on WAR. This stat tries to sum up a player’s total value to their team.

Crow-Armstrong’s dominance in WAR has put him ahead of other rising stars. The system now rewards players like him well before they hit salary arbitration eligibility.

Who Else Is Cashing In?

Crow-Armstrong isn’t alone in making waves or cashing in. Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes is projected to receive $961,256.

Skenes’ pitching performances have vaulted him into second place in WAR among pre-arbitration players. Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood sits third with a projection of $863,835, thanks to his standout play on both sides of the ball.

The Full Top 10 List

Here’s a closer look at the other players making the most of MLB’s bonus pool:

• Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• Hunter Brown (Houston Astros)
• Cristopher Sánchez (Philadelphia Phillies)
• Elly De La Cruz (Cincinnati Reds)
• Carlos Narváez (New York Yankees)
• Ceddanne Rafaela (Boston Red Sox)
• Riley Greene (Detroit Tigers)

Seven of these ten players—including Crow-Armstrong, Skenes, Wood, Carroll, Brown, De La Cruz, and Greene—have earned All-Star spots this year. That says a lot about their impact at the major league level.

How the Pre-Arbitration Bonus Pool Works

The MLB pre-arbitration bonus pool arrived with the 2022 collective bargaining agreement. Its main purpose is to reward young, high-achieving players who haven’t reached arbitration-eligible status—usually less than three years of major league service.

For 2025, the cutoff for arbitration eligibility is two years and 132 days of service, excluding some foreign professionals. It’s a bit technical, but the idea is to get money into the hands of those who haven’t cashed in yet.

A Financial Life-Changer for Young Stars

Most MLB veterans pull in multimillion-dollar salaries. But young players on league-minimum contracts often earn just over $700,000 a year.

For them, this bonus pool is a real financial boost. Last year, Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals took home $3,077,595 as the top earner.

This year’s payouts might not reach that high, but players like Crow-Armstrong and Skenes are set to benefit nicely for their seasons.

Why the Pre-Arbitration Pool Matters

This initiative isn’t just about rewarding individuals. It’s a sign that MLB recognizes the value young stars bring to the game.

Making sure these athletes see financial rewards early in their careers helps align pay with performance. It can also boost morale, build loyalty, and maybe start to close the gap between rookies and veterans under the current pay structure.

A Future-Forward Vision

The pre-arbitration pool could help baseball stay competitive as it tries to win over younger fans. Recognizing and compensating emerging talent sends a message: the next generation of stars is worth watching—and worth rewarding.

Conclusion

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s rise to the top of the pre-arbitration bonus pool standings is something special. He’s showing a ton of promise, and honestly, it’s hard not to get excited about what’s next.

He’s part of a group of gifted players who are shaping MLB’s future. The pre-arbitration bonus pool keeps pushing these young stars to give it their all, especially early in their careers.

 
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