The Pittsburgh Pirates find themselves at a crossroads with their star pitcher, Paul Skenes. As the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year, Skenes has shown he’s a cornerstone for the franchise.
The Pirates now have to decide: do they lock Skenes in with a long-term contract, or trade him before his arbitration years start to get expensive? Money’s tight in Pittsburgh, and their payroll is among the lowest in Major League Baseball. That makes every decision feel heavier.
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The Financial Dilemma
Right now, the Pirates are working with a payroll of $114.2 million, which puts them at 26th in MLB. Their budget crunch looms over every move they make with Paul Skenes.
Skenes is earning a second-year minimum salary of $875,000. He hasn’t started contract talks with the team, and he’s made it clear he’s in no hurry—he just wants to focus on pitching for now.
Comparative Contracts
It helps to look at what other teams have done. Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, who snagged the AL Cy Young last year, is making $10.15 million this season after a one-year deal to skip arbitration. Skubal has one more year of arbitration before free agency in 2027.
Skenes, on the other hand, is under team control until 2030 because of the current collective bargaining agreement. That’s a long time, especially for a young star.
Trade Rumors and Market Value
Even though Skenes says he’s focused on the present, trade rumors keep popping up. They probably won’t stop unless the Pirates make a move toward a contract extension.
Assistant GM Bryan Stroh won’t comment on the situation, which just adds to the mystery. It’s hard not to think about Gerrit Cole, another first overall pick who the Pirates traded away before he could hit free agency. Cole ended up signing a whopping nine-year, $324 million deal with the Yankees—something the Pirates would never match.
Attendance and Fan Engagement
Skenes’ starts haven’t exactly packed PNC Park. The Pirates average 17,120 fans per game, which is 26th in MLB. When Skenes pitches, attendance bumps up to 18,937 on average.
That number includes a big spike—37,713 fans—when the team gave out Skenes bobbleheads. So, he draws a crowd sometimes, but the Pirates still struggle to fill seats most nights.
Long-Term Implications
The Pirates have a shot to lock down a foundational player at a price that might look like a bargain down the line. Signing Skenes long-term would give them stability and a real building block.
Other teams have pulled this off. The Diamondbacks, for example, signed Corbin Carroll to an eight-year, $111 million deal at just 22, wiping out his arbitration years and early free agency.
Player and Management Perspectives
Manager Don Kelly has said he wants to build around Skenes, even comparing him to aces like Verlander and Scherzer. But the real decision sits with the front office and whether they’re willing to spend on their future.
The team’s thriftiness has frustrated fans for years. With no clear message from management, uncertainty just keeps swirling around Skenes and the Pirates’ plans.
The Road Ahead
The Pirates face a tough situation right now. The stakes couldn’t be much higher.
Whether they sign or trade Paul Skenes, it’s going to leave a mark on the franchise for years. Fans are left waiting, probably a bit anxious, to see what happens next.
Whatever the outcome, it’s bound to influence the team’s direction and maybe even reveal how serious the Pirates are about building a real contender. Sometimes, it’s hard not to wonder what they’re really thinking behind closed doors.
For more detailed insights, you can read the full article on Sportico.
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