Paul Skenes is entering his third season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but we have already heard plenty of trade speculation surrounding the superstar pitcher.
Of course, Skenes is under club control through 2029, so the Pirates do not have to be in any rush to move him … or extend him. They can afford to be patient with the flamethrower regardless of external opinions.
Advertisement
However, Pittsburgh just hit splashed with a big bucket of cold water following a decision by one of its National League rivals over the weekend.
The Philadelphia Phillies just signed ace Cristopher Sanchez to a six-year, $107 million contract extension, this even though the Phillies essentially had him under wraps through 2030 due to potential club options the latter two years of his deal.
Philadelphia didn’t have to extend Sanchez, but it did it anyway.
Advertisement
Now, it should be noted that the Phillies got a great deal here. They were able to bag a Cy Young runner-up on a $17.8 million AAV. That’s good business.
But it could potentially set a nasty precedent around baseball, especially for smaller-market teams like the Pirates.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images.
You don’t think Skenes — who has been rumored to be wildly intrigued by the idea of playing for the New York Yankees — just took note of what the Phils did with Sanchez?
Surely, the right-hander was paying close attention, and he is almost certainly wondering why Pittsburgh wouldn’t consider doing the same thing.
Advertisement
To be clear, the chances of Skenes accepting such a yearly salary are slim to none. But you can bet that he appreciates the aggression of the Phillies’ organization, and he is obviously hoping the Pirates — who, to be fair, were very active this offseason — follow suit.
Does that potentially mean approaching Skenes with a massive extension offer? Maybe. Does it mean aggressively spending like contending ballclubs? Perhaps.
No matter how you slice it, the surprising Sanchez deal has put the Buccos in a very uncomfortable position.
Advertisement
There is no doubt that the Pirates want to keep Skenes in Pittsburgh for the long haul, but do they have the financial wherewithal? And can they support a contending roster around Skenes?
These are questions that the Pirates — and Skenes — need to ask themselves when it comes to seeking a potential long-term agreement.
Pirates Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Pirates. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.