MLB Insider Sees Pittsburgh Pirates Trading Paul Skenes After Tarik Skubal Wins Arbitration

“This upcoming baseball season might be the last full season for Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh. I said that because it’s looking pretty darn clear that we’re going to have a lockout in 2027. And that’s his first year of arbitration. I don’t see him getting paid by the Pirates that big of a sum in year two. And he’s going to be able to demand something like, if not exceeding that.”

Skenes will start his third campaign in the majors after making his debut for the Pirates in May 2024. He was the first overall draft pick in the MLB the previous year. The 23-year-old clinched the National League Cy Young Award by unanimous choice in his first full campaign last year.

Paul Skenes Will Cost Higher Than Tarik Skubal, Says MLB Insider

According to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Paul Skenes may earn more than the $32 million Tarik Skubal will receive from the Detroit Tigers in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Therefore, the Pittsburgh Pirates will definitely not keep hold of their superstar if he continues to perform at the same level.

“If he never has a bad year, if he keeps doing what he’s doing now, and he gets into arb-two, he’s probably going to demand north of $32 million. He may demand as much as close to $40 [million]. The Pirates are just not going to pay that. I don’t care if there is a salary cap or whatever. It’s just not happening,” Hiles said.

Besides starting the last two All-Star Games, Skenes produced 13.5 bWAR over his first couple of years in the MLB. The Pirates’ ace has a 1.96 ERA over his career so far. He also finished in the top three of the NL Cy Young race in both years. Skenes won the award last season, a year after claiming the NL Rookie of the Year title.