Matt Johnson
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes is on the most team-friendly contract in baseball, with the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner under club control for the next four seasons at a bargain price. He’ll evidently make a lot of that money back with his next contract.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the next multi-year contract Skenes signs is expected to make him a $50-million-per-year pitcher. That’s, of course, assuming the next MLB CBA doesn’t have a salary cap implemented.
Related: American League Team Pursued Paul Skenes Trade
Currently, Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler is the highest-paid pitcher in baseball with a $42 million salary. However, the $32 million salary that two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal was awarded in an arbitration hearing is a strong indicator that the open market for an elite, young starting pitcher is now in the range of $48 to $50 million annually.
Unsurprisingly, per Heyman, the Pirates reportedly have “little hope” of signing Skenes to a long-term deal under the current CBA. The club evidently views a $50 million AAV as too much to spend on a single pitcher. Skenes is also probably unlikely to sign a contract extension, as it would be in his best financial interests to test the open market.
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However, Pittsburgh’s pessimism regarding an extension with Skenes hasn’t influenced their stance on a potential trade. The Pirates have made it clear to clubs around the league that they have zero interest in trading the 23-year-old ace, and he remains a part of their plans for the future.
There’s no reason for Pittsburgh to rush things either. Skenes is under club control through the 2029 season and he likely won’t even earn a $20-plus million salary until his second year of arbitration eligibility. Barring a dramatic change in circumstances, Skenes will likely be in Pittsburgh for the next two-plus years.
