Each time Paul Skenes takes the mound at PNC Park, fans are reminded of what could be, a team built around a once-in-a-generation talent. Unfortunately, that vision remains distant.
With a 49-65 record and a last-place standing in the NL Central, the 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates have long drifted out of postseason contention. Beautiful skyline views and loyal fans aside, the franchise is once again staring into an uncertain future.
This season has turned from hopeful to frustrating. Aside from Skenes’ brilliance, there’s little direction. The Pirates recently traded closer David Bednar and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.
It was done not in pursuit of a playoff push, but to better position themselves for 2026. That reset hasn’t been easy for fans to accept, but it’s an acknowledgment from the front office: they’re not ready to win now.
The biggest question now is whether the Pirates can hold onto the one bright spot they do have: Paul Skenes.
Pirates push to retain Skenes faces steep odds
MLB insider Dan Zangrilli recently confirmed that the Pirates have opened talks with Skenes on a contract extension. But by his own admission, it won’t be easy. With the money saved from moving Hayes, the team could invest directly in an extension or try to build a competitive roster around Skenes. Either way, the odds are long.
Longtime Pittsburgh insider Mark Powell was blunt in his assessment: unless the team makes a massive financial commitment, Skenes likely walks when the time comes.
Considering the Pirates’ history of small-market spending, it’s a real concern. Their current payroll sits at around $87 million, one of the lowest in the league, and nowhere near what’s needed to fund a $200+ million contract.
What complicates matters further is Skenes himself. He’s made it clear that his priority is winning. The Pirates, however, haven’t demonstrated urgency in surrounding him with a playoff-caliber roster. Their quiet trade deadlines and minimal free-agent action send a message: contention isn’t the top priority, at least not yet.
Still, Zangrilli said the Pirates will keep trying. Even with the odds stacked against them, they won’t back down from the effort to secure their ace for the long term.
Skenes remains under team control until 2030, but with his value rising rapidly, thanks to a 2.02 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 138 innings this season, the clock may already be ticking. Whether Pittsburgh steps up with a commitment that reflects Skenes’ talent will define not only his future, but the direction of the entire franchise.
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