The record financials for Paul Skenes are well underway, and he still has another four years before he becomes a free agent.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner received a record $3,436,343 from this season’s pre-arbitration pool, according to the Associated Press.
He has now received $5,588,400 from the pool spanning his two years in the big leagues, with the program reportedly designed to reward successful players before arbitration.
Skenes, 23, is not eligible for arbitration until after this season.
The pre-arbitration sums are not to be confused with Skenes’ yearly salary, which is low for now due to baseball’s arbitration process.
Skenes earned $564,946 in his inaugural season in 2024 when he won NL Rookie of the Year, and $875,000 this year when he earned top pitcher honors for the NL.
The righty is one of 101 players to receive a pre-arbitration bonus this year, which reportedly includes a set amount should a player win a major award such as MVP, Cy Young or Rookie of the year, plus the remaining money from the $50 million pool being doled out based on a WAR formula.
Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. set the record last year when he received $3,077,595 while finishing second in the AL MVP voting behind Aaron Judge.
This record is likely one of many Skenes will set in the majors, provided he stays healthy.
The former LSU star is already on a Hall of Fame trajectory, going 21-13 with a 1.96 ERA spanning his first 55 starts in the majors.
He’s a two-time All-Star, has finished top three in Cy Young voting in both seasons and also earned a pair of top-20 finishes in NL MVP voting.
While he may not crack Shohei Ohtani’s $70 million annual average value since the Dodgers star is a two-way phenom, Skenes should easily clear the record $325 million pitching contract signed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto ahead of the 2024 season.
A report emerged stating he told teammates he hoped to be a Yankee, but he dismissed that notion and said he’s focused on turning the Pirates into winners.
In the meantime, Skenes is enjoying his offseason away from the Pittsburgh cold.
He and girlfriend Livvy Dunne enjoyed a nice Hawaiian vacation, with Dunne providing candid shots of the college lovebirds.
