Now that the MLB season is officially over and the 
Los Angeles Dodgers are repeat World Series champions, it's time to reflect on the year that was. To determine which MLB pitchers were the most undervalued in 2025, RotoWire.com found the most valuable hurlers during the regular season by finding the least amount of money paid for their 2025 WAR total.
Salary data was from Spotrac; WAR data was from ESPN.
Most Undervalued MLB Pitchers of 2025 Season
Rank | Player | Team | $ Per WAR* |
1 |
| $115,132 | |
2 |
| $137,500 | |
3 |
| $142,632 | |
4 |
| $182,163 | |
5 |
| $200,000 | |
6 |
| $205,342 | |
7 |
| $242,647 | |
8 |
| $253,333 | |
9 |
| $256,250 | |
10 |
| $262,069 | |
11 |
| $282,296 | |
12 |
| $283,333 | |
13 |
| $291,045 | |
14 |
| $316,667 | |
15 |
| $321,739 | |
16 |
| $333,333 | |
17 |
| $343,478 | |
18 |
| $349,205 | |
19 |
| $350,000 | |
20 |
| $351,273 |
Arizona Diamondbacks 
Milwaukee Brewers 
Philadelphia Phillies 
Chicago White Sox 
Colorado Rockies 
Tampa Bay Rays 
Miami Marlins 
Los Angeles Angels 
Minnesota Twins 
Atlanta Braves 
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Which Pitchers Did The Most While Earning the Least in 2025?
Paul Skenes 
Pittsburgh Pirates
Salary: $820,000 (MLB minimum)
WAR (per ESPN.com): 7.6
$ Per WAR: $115,132
To call Paul Skenes' sophomore season on the bump one for the ages would be an understatement, as the former top pick out of LSU had 7.6 WAR (per ESPN.com) in 187.2 innings pitched while striking out 216 batters for the woebegone Pittsburgh Pirates. When you add it all up, Skenes' dollar per WAR figure of $115,132 was well ahead of the next closest MLB pitcher (Andrew Abbott of the Cincinnati Reds, at $137,500), giving further weight to the argument that the 23-year-old California native is the best young pitcher in the game.
Andrew Abbott 
Cincinnati Reds
Salary: $820,000 (MLB minimum)
WAR (per ESPN.com): 5.6
$ per WAR: $137,500
The second round pick in 2021 out of UVA had his best MLB season (by far) in 2025, striking out 149 batters across 166.1 innings pitched for the Reds while going 10-7 with a 2.87 ERA and 1.15 WHIP for the NL Central stalwarts. All told, Abbott's WAR total of 5.6 in 29 games pitched averaged out to $137,500, dollar per WAR wise, making him the second most underappreciated MLB pitcher by our metrics in 2025.
Hunter Brown 
Houston Astros
Salary: $5,500,000
WAR (per ESPN.com): 6.1
$ per WAR: $142,632
The fourth MLB campaign for the fifth round pick in 2019 was his best yet, with Brown going 12-9 in 31 starts for the Astros, tossing 185.1 innings and striking out 206 batters (to 57 walks), with a 2.43 ERA and 1.03 WHIP to boot. While Brown's salary in 2025 ($5.5 million) was well above the others ahead of him, his production on the bump made such a payday more than warranted in the Space City, with Brown setting career highs across the board this year. All told, Brown's $ per WAR figure of $142,632 was the third best in the Majors this year, putting him in elite company when it comes to naming some of the best young arms in the game right now.
Bryan Woo 
Seattle Mariners
Salary: $820,000 (MLB minimum)
WAR (per ESPN.com): 4.3
$ per WAR: $182,163
Year Three for the sixth round pick out of Cal Poly showed what Woo can do, with the 25-year-old starter going 15-7 for the AL West-champion Seattle Mariners. This year, Woo had 4.3 WAR in 30 starts, posting an ERA of 2.94 and a 0.93 WHIP across 186.2 innings pitched and posting a dollar per WAR total of $182,163, ranking fourth overall in the Majors by that metric.
Noah Cameron 
Kansas City Royals
Salary: $820,000 (MLB minimum)
WAR (per ESPN.com): 3.8
$ per WAR: $200,000
Noah Cameron's rookie season showed what the 199th pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of Central Arkansas is capable of for the up-and-coming Kansas City Royals. That's because Cameron managed to post a sub-3.00 ERA (2.99) in 138.1 innings of work, striking out 114 to 43 walks and finishing with more K's than hits in the Crossroads this MLB season. All told, Cameron's dollar per WAR total of $200,000 was the fifth best figure across the Majors this season, showcasing the unique skillset that the 26-year-old southpaw is capable of in 2026 and beyond for the Royals.
Other Undervalued MLB Pitchers
Outside of the five pitchers listed above, guys like Gavin Williams of the 
Cleveland Guardians ($205,342 per WAR), Arizona Diamondbacks' hurler Ryne Nelson ($242,647 per WAR) and Quinn Priester of the Milwaukee Brewers ($253,333 per WAR) were the most undervalued hurlers in 2025.
Of those three, Williams had the best season, WAR wise, at 3.8 across 167.2 innings pitched with a 12-5 record for the AL Central-winning Guardians, while Nelson (3.4 WAR/7-3/3.39 ERA) and Priester (3.0 WAR/13-3/3.32 ERA) were far from pedestrian on the mound this season.
Throw in names like Cristopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies ($256,250 per WAR) and Chicago White Sox starter Mike Vasil ($262,069 per WAR) and you have the upper end of the MLB's most undervalued pitchers list covered.
Still, when it comes to doing more with less (financially, at least) no one could hold a candle to Paul Skenes of the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates, with the future Cy Young winner from LSU showing his unique skillset throughout the year in the Steel City this MLB season.
