Pirates star Paul Skenes receives record payday after winning Cy Young Award amid trade rumors

Paul Skenes is getting rewarded for his historical performance.

In conscionable his 2nd play successful the large leagues, the Pittsburgh Pirates flamethrower led the majors with a 1.97 ERA portion striking retired 216 batters en way to a unanimous National League Cy Young Award victory.

Skenes, who is not adjacent eligible for arbitration yet, volition person a grounds $3.4 cardinal from the pre-arbitration bonus excavation that was created successful 2022.

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Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes reacts aft striking retired Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (not pictured) to extremity the 3rd inning astatine PNC Park. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

The $50 cardinal excavation was implemented successful the newest corporate bargaining statement to reward apical players who aren't yet arbitration eligible (no much than 3 years of MLB service). The erstwhile precocious was Bobby Witt Jr.'s $3.1 cardinal for the 2024 season, which came aft signing a $288.7 million, 11-year woody with the Kansas City Royals earlier the twelvemonth started.

Skenes received $2.5 cardinal unsocial for winning the Cy Young Award. He made much than $2 cardinal past twelvemonth for his unanimous Rookie of the Year show contempt not making his MLB debut until May 11.

Skenes is nether squad power for the remainder of this decade, but fixed the Pirates' past of not paying big-time players, his sanction has already been circulating successful the rumor mill.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the 2nd inning of a shot crippled against the Chicago Cubs successful Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025.  (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

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Skenes was linked to the New York Yankees successful a study from NJ Advance Media. A erstwhile Pirates teammate of Skenes reportedly told the outlet the pitcher was "hoping for a trade" earlier helium becomes a escaped cause successful 2029. Skenes, however, dismissed the notion.

More MLB records could beryllium good connected the mode for Skenes, who is acceptable to scope escaped bureau astatine property 28. The largest woody ever fixed to a pitcher, some successful dollars and years, is Yoshinobu Yamamoto's $325 cardinal implicit 12 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. At property 25, helium received that woody earlier adjacent throwing an MLB pitch, having won 3 consecutive MVP awards successful Japan.

Mar 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) celebrates with teammates aft leaving the crippled against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning astatine loanDepot Park. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

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The largest declaration ever fixed retired by the Pirates is the $106.8 cardinal woody they gave to Bryan Reynolds up of the 2023 season. Ke'Bryan Hayes is 2nd astatine $70 million, and earlier that, it was the $60 cardinal fixed to Jason Kendall successful 2000.

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