Paul Skenes has given the Pittsburgh Pirates everything they could ask for. He’s been dominant, won awards and hinted at a bright future. But will the team show their appreciation in return?
With the franchise’s history of tight budgets, some fans worry the owners might let another superstar slip away.
Is Paul Skenes Too Good for the Pirates’ Current Approach?
Skenes had an outstanding 2024 season, finishing with an impressive 11-3 record, a 1.96 ERA, and 170 strikeouts, which led to him being named the NL Rookie of the Year.
Reflecting on his rookie season, he praised the Pirates’ approach, stating, “I don’t know if there can be a perfect plan, but it was just about perfectly put together.”
So, what’s going on? The Pirates have consistently had one of the lowest payrolls in MLB. Their unwillingness to invest in elite players has been a source of frustration for fans over the years. Now, with Skenes secured through 2029 at an incredibly low salary of just $875,000 for the upcoming season, the heat is on.
Dejan Kovacevic Calls Out Pirates’ Ownership
Pittsburgh sports columnist Dejan Kovacevic didn’t hold back in an episode of “Foul Territory,” arguing that Skenes’ presence forces the Pirates to rethink their entire approach.
“Here Come Skenes. You know what he does? He messes up the whole vibe; he just does. Skenes puts them in a position where they go, ‘Oh, geez, this is different. What do we do with this one?'” Kovacevic said.
“I’m not even talking about signing him. They own his rights for [five] years … with the way the arbitration thing goes now. It’s that he forces them to think differently — every year that Skenes is here is a year that you should be pursuing everything, OK? Because you have him here at this crazy bargain rate. Think about what he’s going to make on the open market, right.”
"Every year that Skenes is here is a year that you should be pursuing EVERYTHING."@Dejan_Kovacevic details how the emergence of Paul Skenes has backed Pirates ownership into a corner regarding their lack of ambition to improve the team. pic.twitter.com/GZ96wEmIQy
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) March 21, 2025
“And you should be putting everything that you have into this. He [Pirates ownership] won’t. He will spend what sees in front of him; he won’t spend further,” he added.
The Pirates have been in a rebuilding phase for years, but a rebuild only works if the team eventually takes the next step. Kovacevic believes Skenes is the type of player who can push for that progress immediately.
If the Pirates don’t invest in the roster, Skenes — who is reportedly eligible for arbitration in 2027 — could find himself in a tough spot. And if history repeats itself, he might leave as soon as he can, much like former Pirates stars Gerrit Cole and Tyler Glasnow.