Pirates Faced 2027 Salary Projections

MLB Trade Rumors released projected arbitration figures for ten Pittsburgh Pirates players.

Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Baseball

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MLB Trade Rumors has released salary projections for ten arbitration-eligible Pittsburgh Pirates players for the 2027 season. These estimates arrive as the team prepares for negotiations during the 2026-27 offseason.

Why it matters

The projections provide an early look at the financial commitments the Pirates may face to retain their core roster. Pittsburgh aims to keep all ten eligible players through these upcoming negotiations.

Paul Skenes holds a projected 2027 salary of $7.2 million, while Oneil Cruz is projected at $6.3 million. Additionally, Jared Jones and Spencer Horwitz have projected salaries of $2.1 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

The players

Paul Skenes

He is a starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who has drawn significant attention for his high salary projections.

Oneil Cruz

He is a versatile player who recorded 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases during the 2026 season.

Endy Rodríguez

He is a catcher whose 2027 return is currently delayed following season-ending surgery to repair a left hip labrum injury.

Jared Jones

He is a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who earned recognition as the National League Pitcher of the Month in September 2026.

Spencer Horwitz

He is an infielder who qualified for arbitration as a Super Two player due to his service time status.

The details

The salary projections were generated using a long-standing analytical model from MLB Trade Rumors. Spencer Horwitz is categorized as a Super Two player, qualifying for arbitration as he ranks within the top 22 percent of service time.

2026: Players competed throughout the MLB regular season.
September 2026: Jared Jones was honored as NL Pitcher of the Month.
October 3, 2026: MLB Trade Rumors published the salary projections.
Offseason 2026-27: The Pirates must navigate arbitration-eligible contract negotiations.
March-May 2027: Endy Rodríguez is expected to resume baseball activities.

Season Trajectory

These salary projections signal the start of a critical roster-building phase for the Pirates during the offseason. The financial allocation will directly impact the team's ability to maintain competitive balance as they head into the 2027 season.

Fans should monitor these salary figures as indicators of the team's available budget for further roster adjustments. The final contract outcomes for players like Oneil Cruz will impact the team's total payroll and long-term spending capacity.

The takeaway

These projections highlight the growing financial commitment required to retain core talent in the modern MLB market. Readers should view these figures as internal benchmarks that guide contract negotiations rather than finalized compensation agreements.