(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

(AP) Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes will receive a record $3,436,343 from this year’s pre-arbitration bonus pool, raising his two-year total to $5,588,400 under the initiative to direct more money to top younger players.

A 23-year-old right-hander who debuted in May 2024, Skenes was a unanimous winner of this year’s NL Cy Young Award after leading the major leagues with a 1.97 ERA and striking out 216 batters in 187 1/3 innings. He had an $875,000 salary in the major leagues after earning $564,946 in pay last year. He won’t be eligible for salary arbitration until after the 2026 season.

Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. had the previous high of $3,077,595 for the 2024 season. MLB and the union agreed to the $50 million annual pool in their March 2022 labor settlement.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez was second this year at $2,678,437 after earning a $576,282 bonus for 2024.

He was followed by Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown at $2,206,538, Seattle pitcher Bryan Woo at $1,540,676 and Arizona outfielder Corbin Carroll at $1,341,674, according to figures compiled by Major League Baseball and the players’ association.

Also topping $1 million were Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz at $1,297,017, Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong at $1,206,207, Atlanta catcher Drake Baldwin at $1,175,583, Milwaukee second baseman Brice Turang at $1,155,884 and Tampa Bay third baseman Junior Caminero at $1,068,739.

Milwaukee became the first team with as many as 10 players earning the bonuses in one year. Detroit and Miami tied for the second-most this year with six each. Brewers players totaled the most money at $4,742,392, followed by Pittsburgh at $4,362,309 and the Athletics at $3,103,411.

Several of the players receiving bonus money have long-term contracts, a group that includes Carroll, Sánchez, Boston outfielders Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela and pitcher Brayan Bello, Milwaukee outfielder Jackson Chourio and pitcher Aaron Ashby, Cleveland pitcher Tanner Bibee, Detroit infielder Colt Keith and San Diego outfielder Jackson Merrill.

A total of 101 players will receive the payments under a plan aimed to get more money to players without sufficient service time for salary arbitration eligibility going into the season, which was 2 years, 132 days. Players signed as foreign professionals are not eligible.

Eighteen players earned bonuses based on awards. An eligible player receives $2.5 million for winning an MVP or Cy Young, $1.75 million for second in the voting, $1.5 million for third, $1 million for fourth, fifth or selection to the all-MLB first team, $750,000 for Rookie of the Year, $500,000 for second in Rookie of the Year voting or all-MLB second team.

All-MLB teams are voted by fans, media members, broadcasters, former players and officials.

A player is eligible to receive the bonus for one achievement per year, earning only the highest amount. The remaining money is allocated by a WAR formula.

Washington outfielder Daylen Lile received the smallest bonus of $150,000 — while he was not among the top 100 by WAR, he finished fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers stands on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers and his broken left wrist could play on Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Buffalo Bills.

The 41-year-old Rodgers practiced in a limited capacity last week, but ended up watching Pittsburgh’s 31-28 loss to Chicago from the sideline in sweatpants after Steelers coach Mike Tomlin decided to make Rodgers inactive and start Mason Rudolph instead.

Tomlin called the decision to sit the four-time MVP a “prudent” one but declined to get into specifics. There seems to be a far greater chance of Rodgers returning when Pittsburgh (6-5) tries to snap out of a midseason funk against the Bills (7-4) in a game that could have serious playoff implications for both teams.

“We’re comfortable with the general trajectory (of Rodgers),” Tomlin said.

Tomlin made the final call to sit Rodgers against Chicago on Saturday. He isn’t sure if he will keep the window open a little longer this time around.

Whichever player is at quarterback will have a new face protecting his blindside. Left tackle Broderick Jones will sit out with a neck injury sustained late in the fourth quarter against Chicago when Bears defensive lineman Dominique Robinson jumped and appeared to grab Jones’ head.

Calvin Anderson filled in during the game and would be in line to make his first start with the Steelers, who have dropped four of six to drop into a tie with Baltimore atop the AFC North. Pittsburgh also has veteran Andrus Peat available.

Rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, who has been effective as part of a rotation that includes fellow rookie Yahya Black, will also sit out with a knee injury. Tomlin said the injury is not related to the one that Harmon suffered at the end of training camp and caused him to miss Pittsburgh’s first two games.

Black could see an uptick in playing time. The Steelers also have Brodric Martin-Rhodes available.

Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith could also be back after missing two games with a pectoral injury. Highsmith also sat out two games earlier this season with an ankle injury.

Pittsburgh’s defense, whichever players are out there, will have to find a way to keep Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen in check in a game that could carry significant postseason implications. There are currently seven teams in the AFC at 7-4 or 6-5.

Allen has toyed with the Steelers through the years. He is 4-1 against Pittsburgh in his career, with the past three victories all by at least 11 points. He will face a defense that is uncharacteristically ranked near the bottom of the league in yards and points against, symbolic of the club’s wildly uneven season.

Asked why consistency has been an issue, the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach shrugged.

“You know, I think oftentimes your record reflects that,” he said. “You know if we were sitting here at 9-2, we’d probably be having less of the discussion at 6-5. I think 6-5 in general speaks to that.”