Baseball’s new pre-arbitration bonus program includes money based on new version of WAR, according to memo

A memo distributed to teams Thursday outlined the plan to enrich standout players in the early parts of their careers who still make around the major league minimum, which this season is $700,000. The memo, obtained by ESPN, also included the totals for the new version of WAR created by Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association to reward players.

The $50 million pool, agreed to in the new collective bargaining agreement and funded by the league, starts by distributing money to players who place high in awards voting. Those who are not yet in arbitration, in which players typically with three to six years of service negotiate their salaries, receive $2.5 million for winning the MVP or Cy Young awards; $1.75 million for second place in either and $1.5 million for finishing third; $1 million for fourth- or fifth-place finishes or first-team All-MLB honors; $750,000 for first place in Rookie of the Year voting; and $500,000 for second place in Rookie of the Year and second-team All-MLB.

Once those awards are handed out, the remainder of the pool—which would have been $39.75 million last year—is split among the 100 players in the group with the highest WAR.

Tops in the group right now is Murphy, the 27-year-old catcher who is hitting .252/.333/.442 this season. While his offensive numbers pale compared to some of his peers, Murphy gains significant value from his fielding numbers and the positional adjustment that rewards more difficult defensive positions, such as catcher and shortstop.