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Paul Skenes is being rewarded for his historic performance.
In just his second season in the big leagues, the Pittsburgh Pirates flamethrower led the majors with a 1.97 ERA while striking out 216 batters en route to a unanimous National League Cy Young Award victory.
Skenes, who is not even eligible for arbitration yet, will receive a record $3.4 million from the pre-arbitration bonus pool that was created in 2022.
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Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes reacts after striking out Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (not pictured) to end the third inning at PNC Park. (Charles LeClaire/Image Images)
The $50 million pool was implemented in the most recent collective bargaining agreement to reward top players who are not yet arbitration-eligible (no more than three years of MLB service). The previous high was Bobby Witt Jr.’s $3.1 million for the 2024 season, which came after signing an 11-year, $288.7 million contract with the Kansas City Royals before the year began.
Skenes received $2.5 million just for winning the Cy Young Award. He earned more than $2 million last year for his unanimous Rookie of the Year performance despite not making his MLB debut until May 11.
Skenes will be under team control for the rest of this decade, but given the Pirates’ history of not paying important players, his name has already been circulating in rumors.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
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Skenes was linked to the New York Yankees in a report from New Jersey Advanced Media. A former Pirates teammate of Skenes’s reportedly told the outlet that the pitcher was “waiting for a trade” before becoming a free agent in 2029. Skenes, however, dismissed the idea.
More MLB records could be on the way for Skenes, who will hit free agency at age 28. The largest deal ever given to a pitcher, both in dollars and years, is Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s deal of $325 million over 12 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. At age 25, he received that treatment before even throwing an MLB pitch, having won three consecutive MVP awards in Japan.
March 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, United States; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) celebrates with his teammates after leaving the game against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at LoanDepot Park. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
The largest contract ever given by the Pirates is the $106.8 million they gave to Bryan Reynolds ahead of the 2023 season. Ke’Bryan Hayes is in second place with $70 million, and before that, it was the $60 million given to Jason Kendall in 2000.
