Paul Skenes has been on a rapid climb since the moment he debuted, and his latest achievement adds another milestone to an already stacked resume. The Pirates right-hander, just two years into his big-league career, has become the face of Pittsburgh’s future while delivering the kind of numbers usually reserved for seasoned veterans.
After storming onto the scene as the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year, Skenes doubled down with an even better encore. He captured the 2025 NL Cy Young Award with the same calm, forceful presence he showed at LSU, where his legend first began. His 1.96 ERA over 55 career starts has put him on a trajectory that analysts usually hesitate to assign to pitchers this early, yet here he is, making that discussion unavoidable.
Now he’s adding a financial headline to his growing list of achievements.
The way that fans see us outside of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh is not supposed to win… There are 29 fan bases that expect us to lose. I want to be a part of the 26 guys that change that
Paul Skenes: A record bonus for MLB’s new A-list arm
The Associated Press reported that Skenes received a record $3,436,343 from MLB’s pre-arbitration bonus pool for the 2025 season. It’s the highest payout ever given through the program, which rewards top early-career talent before they hit arbitration. The previous record belonged to Bobby Witt Jr., who earned just over $3 million in 2024.
With this season’s payout, Skenes has already collected $5.58 million in bonus money across two years. That figure towers over his actual salaries during that span, which were $564,946 in his debut season and $875,000 this year. The disconnect is a reminder of how MLB’s salary system works for young stars. The bonus pool is designed to bridge the gap between low early-career salaries and elite production, and Skenes is the perfect example of why the system exists.
The righty is one of 101 players to receive a bonus this season, and major awards trigger preset amounts within the pool. The rest is distributed based on a WAR formula, which Skenes dominated.
His on-field numbers only amplify the story. He has made two All-Star teams, finished top three in Cy Young voting twice, and even cracked the top 20 in MVP voting each year. It’s no surprise that conversations about his future contract have already begun. While he may not reach Shohei Ohtani’s unprecedented $70 million annual figure, surpassing Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s$325 million deal seems well within reach if he stays healthy.
For now, though, Skenes says he’s focused on helping the Pirates become contenders. Rumors about a desire to join the Yankees were quickly dismissed by the pitcher himself. Instead, as Pittsburgh chills through the winter, Skenes is relaxing far from the cold, enjoying a Hawaiian getaway with girlfriend Livvy Dunne, who shared glimpses of their offseason escape.
If his first two seasons are any indication, the warm weather won’t be the only thing heating up in Skenes’ world. His career and his earning power are rising just as fast.
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