The story of Paul Skenes is quickly becoming one of Major League Baseball’s most intriguing plotlines. The 23-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates ace has already made a name for himself as one of the sport’s most dominant pitchers in just two seasons.
Yet his long-term future in Pittsburgh feels up in the air. Despite racking up individual accolades that rival the game’s all-time greats, Skenes and the Pirates haven’t started any contract extension talks — leaving fans to wonder if the small-market club can really keep its superstar for the long haul.
Paul Skenes: A Meteoric Rise to Stardom
Since his debut, Paul Skenes has been nothing short of sensational. In 2025, his second MLB season, the righty posted a jaw-dropping 2.03 ERA over 181.2 innings and struck out 209 batters, all while keeping his WHIP at just 0.96.
He led the league with 7.2 Wins Above Replacement, which pretty much cements his place among the elite. Skenes became just the sixth pitcher in the live-ball era to notch more than 200 strikeouts in each of his first two seasons.
He even made history by starting the All-Star Game in both his rookie and sophomore years. This came right after a rookie campaign in 2024 where he took home the NL Rookie of the Year award, finished third in Cy Young voting, and landed on the All-MLB First Team.
Accolades Keep Piling Up
The Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America gave Skenes the Roberto Clemente Award (team MVP) and the Steve Blass Award (best pitcher) for 2025. Achievements like these just keep boosting his value to the Pirates and raising his national profile — and, honestly, his potential market value too.
A Contract Question Mark
While Skenes’ performance on the mound has dazzled, his contract situation is making both fans and front office folks nervous. The fireballing righty is earning $875,000 in 2025 — his second pre-arbitration year.
Under MLB’s service time system, he’ll have three arbitration-eligible seasons before he can hit free agency after the 2029 season. Financially, this timeline puts the Pirates in a tough spot.
The classic small-market dilemma is staring them in the face: do they spend big now to lock him into a team-friendly extension, or risk losing him — maybe to some deep-pocketed franchise — once he hits free agency?
No Talks During the Season
Skenes has been clear about not wanting to negotiate contracts during the season, and the team’s gone along with it. So, any real extension talks would have to happen in the offseason.
That leaves a pretty small window for the Pirates to make a move before his arbitration years send his salary skyrocketing.
Why the Pirates Can’t Afford to Wait
For Pittsburgh, locking up Skenes sooner rather than later could honestly change the whole direction of the franchise. Pitchers like him don’t come around often.
In recent memory, it’s rare for small-market teams to keep an ace through his prime without an early long-term deal. Waiting could mean dealing with arbitration battles every year and, eventually, losing him to teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, or Mets.
Big Market Temptations
If Skenes keeps up this pace, his free-agent market value could shatter records for pitchers. These kinds of financial realities have haunted teams with tight payrolls for decades.
Pirates fans can’t help but remember past stars who left Pittsburgh for bigger contracts elsewhere. It’s a tough pill to swallow, and you can’t blame them for worrying it’ll happen again.
The Bottom Line
Paul Skenes already stands out as the face of the Pirates franchise. Honestly, he’s one of MLB’s brightest lights right now.
He brings this rare blend of dominance and consistency. Throw in a few historical milestones, and you’ve got the kind of player any team would love to build around.
The real question isn’t if he deserves a long-term deal. It’s whether the Pirates will actually step up and make that investment before it slips away.
Right now, Skenes just keeps his head down and focuses on the field. He’s not letting contract talk distract him—at least, not yet.
But every time he takes the mound and dazzles, you can feel the pressure mounting for the Pirates’ front office. Pittsburgh fans know the sting of watching stars leave, and honestly, locking up Paul Skenes might be the most crucial move in the city’s baseball history.
- 2025 Stats: 2.03 ERA, 209 strikeouts, 0.96 WHIP
- Accolades: NL Rookie of the Year (2024), 2× All-Star Game starter, All-MLB First Team
- Contract Status: Pre-arbitration through 2025, free agent after 2029
- Awards from BBWAA Pittsburgh Chapter: Roberto Clemente Award (team MVP), Steve Blass Award (best pitcher)
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