There’s nothing set in stone. They’re just projections.

But the potential salary figures for a few Pirates, released Monday night via MLB Trade Rumors, could point to even more roster shuffling for the club this winter.

Same as ever, they’re calculated by Matt Swartz, a baseball economist who has performed this task for about a decade and a half. His success rate is very good. So much so that that much of the industry routinely relies on (and cites) the projected amounts players will earn via arbitration.

On paper, that involves nine Pirates who are eligible for arbitration, including Oneil Cruz for the first time. Despite hitting .200 with a .676 OPS, Cruz is projected to earn $3.2 million in 2026 because arbitration also revolves around service time, not just production.

It’s still a

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