Everyone looks to sign their superstars before they reach peak value.
But some players are so transcendent that they eclipse any reasonable contract valuation long before a contract would be sensible.
Paul Skenes is certainly one of those players, with the Pirates superstar’s next contract estimated to be upwards of $400 million.
“If it’s not Skubal (or Pérez), it’s bound to be Skenes,” ESPN analyst Jeff Passan wrote in reference to what young player’s contract might be of the most value. “The 22-year-old helped his clock by winning Rookie of the Year and the full year of service that comes with it. He’ll be just 27 when he’s on the market after the 2029 season. And if Skubal (or Pérez) does indeed crack the $400 million threshold, it would be no surprise to see Skenes — the best pitching prospect in a generation — parlay his productivity, age and marketability into becoming baseball’s first half-billion-dollar pitcher.”
The 2024 Rookie of the Year and All-Star starter has quickly become one of the best pitchers in the MLB, surging to the top of the sport and becoming a true ace in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates will certainly have to pay a pretty penny to keep their young star, whose contract should come close to being one of the most expensive in baseball history.
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Pirates owner Bob Nutting has been on the cheaper side of late. It’ll be interesting to see if these stars can help convince him to pay up.
