Cristopher Sanchez got some extra cash for the holidays thanks to Major League Baseball’s Pre-Arbitration Bonus Pool. Over the past couple of seasons, Sanchez has established himself as one of the better pitchers in baseball. His 2025 season stats – 13-5, 2.50 with 212 strikeouts and 202 innings pitched – made him the runner-up to Cy Young winner Paul Skenes of the Pirates and added $2,678,437 to his bank account.

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The bonus pool was established in the last Collective Bargaining Agreement to give young players who have not yet qualified for raises through arbitration, but produce at high levels, financial rewards for their success.

Find out more about the Pre-Arbitration Bonus Pool

Sanchez signed a four-year, $22.5-million contract extension prior to 2024, but still qualifies for the bonus pool money. Over the past two seasons, Sanchez has earned an extra $3,254,719 in bonus money. His stats over the two seasons are: 24-14, 2.89 with 63 GS, 383.2 IP, 3 CG, 88 BB, 365 K.

Skenes, the Cy Young winner, picked up a record $3,436,343 this season and over the past two seasons has cashed in to the tune of $5,588,400 after making his debut in May of 2024. Pitchers like Skenes are also helped because the pool also has a section that rewards teams with extra draft picks for calling up players prior to the cut off to qualify for a full season of service time.

Milwaukee had 10 different players collect money in varying amounts from the bonus pool with Detroit and Miami both having six players collect money. In all, there were 101 players who received between what Skenes earned and the $150-thousand earned by Washington’s Daylen Lile, who was fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

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