Paul Skenes might go down as one of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball history, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have him under control for three more seasons.
After winning his first Cy Young last year, Skenes wants to get even better in his third full season in MLB, hoping that he can do enough to push the Pirates close to a postseason spot.
But when it comes to talk of an actual extension, that is when the optimism dies down between the Pirates and Skenes.
While every Pirates fan would love to see Skenes play his entire career in Pittsburgh, it seems nearly impossible, as the fireballer could be looking at the most lucrative pitching free agency contract in baseball history when allowed to test the open market.
So what do the Pirates do?
Well, former baseball general manager and current baseball insider, Jim Bowden, believes that if the Pirates get a king’s ransom for Skense, they should take it.
Especially if it’s from the New York Yankees.
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On “Foul Territory” on YouTube, Bowden let his thoughts be known about the possibility of Skenes becoming a Yankee.
In a reported offering by the Yankees that included Cam Schlittler, Spencer Jones, Carlos Lagrange, and George Lombard Jr., Bowden believes the Pirates were foolish not to take the deal, if true.
“I know when [Skenes’] free agent days are up, he is not going to be able to sign long-term in Pittsburgh,” Bowden said. “They’re not going to pay him $400 million or whatever it’s going to take at that time.”
Bowden went on to say that he believes Cam Schlittler can be a true No. 1 ace, and that, along with the rest of the Yankees package, it would be intelligent of the Pirates to do a deal sooner rather than later, where the value will continue to plummet.
As of now, though, no deal is in place or even being discussed, with the Pirates happy to keep Skenes for now, given free agency is still in the distance.