The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided arbitration with four players Thursday, signing catcher Joey Bart, center fielder Oneil Cruz and right-handed relievers Justin Lawrence and Dennis Santana to one-year contracts.

Cruz received the biggest raise. After making $785,000 last season, he signed for $3.4 million in 2026. That’s $200,000 less than projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to make $3.6 million.

Cruz batted .200/.298/.378 with 18 doubles, a team-high 20 home runs and finished second with 61 RBIs and 62 runs scored in 2025, and tied Juan Soto for the National League lead in with 38 stolen bases to mark his second consecutive 20-20 season.

After losing his arbitration hearing last year — he asked for $2.1 million but received $1.4 million — Santana more than doubled his salary. He signed for $3.5 million, higher than his projected $3.4 million. The right-hander moved into the closer role when two-time All-Star David Bednar was demoted to Triple-A in April, recording a 1.64 ERA and three saves. He went 4-5 with a 2.18 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 70⅓ innings over 70 appearances and finished with 16 saves, reclaiming the closer role when Bednar was traded to the New York Yankees.

Bart received an increase from $1.75 million last season to $2.53 million in 2026, slightly lower than his projected $2.7 million. He opened the season as the starting catcher but couldn’t replicate the power numbers he posted in 2024 (13 homers, 45 RBIs, .799 OPS in 80 games) and ended up splitting time with Henry Davis. Bart batted .249/.355/.340 with 12 doubles, four homers and 30 RBIs in 93 games.

Lawrence made $975,000 last season but earned a raise to $1.225 million, slightly higher than his projected $1.2 million. Claimed on waivers in March from the Colorado Rockies, where he had 14 saves over four seasons, Lawrence got off to a good start with an 0.79 ERA in March and April before spending most of the season on the injured list with right elbow inflammation. Lawrence only pitched 17⅔ innings but had an 0.51 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 23 strikeouts, an average of 11.7 per nine innings.

The Pirates had nine players eligible for arbitration but designated right-handed relievers Colin Holderman and Dauri Moreta for assignment, traded starting right-hander Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox and avoided arbitration by signing outfielder Jack Suwinski ($1.25 million) and righty reliever Yohan Ramirez ($825,000) to one-year contracts. Holderman, Moreta and outfielders Alexander Canario and Ronny Simon were non-tendered, making them free agents.