Since his debut in Major League Baseball in May 2024, Paul Skenes has established himself as one of the best starting pitchers in . With enviable talent that any franchise would love to have, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ management is looking to extend the stay of their best pitcher in decades beyond the 2029 season, when he will become a free agent. However, there is still a long way to go, so several big-name, big-budget teams will send offers to the desk of the team’s general manager, Benjamin P. Cherington.
However, as insider Jason Mackey explained on Friday’s “Post-Gazette – Pirates” podcast, the Pirates’ efforts to retain Skenes may be in vain if they do not meet the demands of their star pitcher. Today they are the third worst team in the National League and the seventh worst in MLB.
The formula to convince Paul Skenes to stay with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Explaining his argument, Mackey claimed that a unique talent like Skenes would probably prefer to move to a team that offers him a good chance of winning titles year after year. Unfortunately, the Pittsburgh Pirates have long since ceased to be a World Series contender. And they currently show no signs of giving him that platform in the near future. In the current campaign, they are at the bottom of the National League Central Division with 51 wins and 66 losses.
Mackey gave his opinion on the situation where Paul Skenes should demand guarantees from Pirates management to have a competitive team that is worth his stay in Pittsburgh. “Put a team in front of me and we’ll talk, or I’ll go somewhere else”. Either way there is a gain for someone. In case Cherington sells Skenes he will do so for a hefty sum of money and that same payment you invest in quality players for the coming seasons. It’s a gamble. Skenes will look out for himself, but both sides will make a lot of money with a record payout, whatever. “I don’t see anything working here between Paul Skenes and the Pirates”.
Skenes shows his arm is worth millions of dollars
After winning the prestigious National League Rookie of the Year award for a stellar debut season in 2024, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes has shifted up another gear this season. With a 1.94 ERA and 162 total strikeouts this season, Skenes is shaping up to be one of the leading candidates for the National League Cy Young award. Somehow, with those statistics, Skenes has a record of just 7-8, which shows the support he is receiving.
In his start last Thursday, Skenes had another great performance as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 7-0, who are playoff contenders. He pitched six scoreless innings and struck out eight. On this occasion, the Pirates’ hitters provided unusual support for their ace, getting a three-run lead in the first inning. The excellent work of Skenes and relievers Cam Sanders, Ryan Borucki and Kyle Nicolas kept the opponent scoreless.
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