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Paul Skenes is rewarded for his historic performance.
In just his second season in the major 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 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/Imagn Images)
The $50 million prize pool was implemented in the latest collective bargaining agreement to reward top players who are not yet eligible for arbitration (no more than three years of MLB service). The previous high was Bobby Witt Jr.’s $3.1 million for the 2024 season, earned after signing an 11-year, $288.7 million contract with the Kansas City Royals before the start of the year.
Skenes alone received $2.5 million for winning the Cy Young Award. He earned more than $2 million last year for his unanimous Rookie of the Year performance, even though he didn’t make his MLB debut until May 11.
Skenes is under team control for the remainder of this decade, but given the Pirates’ habit of underpaying big-name players, his name has already been in the rumor mill.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, September 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 reportedly told the outlet that the pitcher was “hoping for a trade” before becoming a free agent in 2029. Skenes, however, rejected that idea.
More MLB records could be on the way for Skenes, who is set to reach free agency status at 28 years old. The largest pitcher contract ever, both in dollars and years, was Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 12-year, $325 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. At 25, he received this deal before ever throwing a pitch in MLB, after winning three consecutive MVP awards in Japan.
March 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, United States; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) celebrates with teammates after leaving the game against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at LoanDepot Park. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
The Pirates’ largest contract ever is the $106.8 million deal they gave to Bryan Reynolds ahead of the 2023 season. Ke’Bryan Hayes is second with $70 million, and before that was the $60 million given to Jason Kendall in 2000.
