Locking up Skenes

[JollyRoger8]

The Padres just locked up Jackson Merrill for 9 years $135M
This buys out his arbitration years plus some free agent years.
GREAT deal for the Padres.

Here is an idea for locking up Skenes.
Obviously Skenes will be a larger contract. However with more risk as he is a pitcher.
Suppose the Pirates follow the Dodgers example of a large portion of deferred salary as was done with Ohtani. Nutting could keep the salary very reasonable while Skenes is actively pitching. He could then sell the team at a future date when Skenes has retired. That would be a win win for Pirate fans.

https://www.cbssports.com/watch/mlb/vid ... 16-10adi8e

[Doc]

I wish you could be right but I can't imagine a scenario where Bob Nutting offers Skenes a long term deal. He's done nothing in the way of bringing in talent in order to take advantage of having control over Skenes for the next five years. In fact, if a healthy Skenes is here through the 2027 season, I'll be surprised.

[Surgnbuck]

Other than something blatantly stupid, Skenes is out of here. I predict Skenes will be traded at the 2026 deadline, with a lockout/strike looming for 2027.

[mouse]

Skenes got that 2 MM bonus from MLB for doing so well so he does have some money in the bank. No way he's here more than year 2027 (first arb year). He's almost at a point now where he's in that 'really, really good closer on a really really bad team' category. The only real benefit is that They win seventy games instead of sixty and every five days or so the attendance spikes. It won't be long, even at arb formulas, until the return is less from keeping him than from trading him.

[Wildwoodcoach]

I wish you could be right but I can't imagine a scenario where Bob Nutting offers Skenes a long term deal. He's done nothing in the way of bringing in talent in order to take advantage of having control over Skenes for the next five years. In fact, if a healthy Skenes is here through the 2027 season, I'll be surprised.

But didn't you read where Nutting feels he has done everything possible this year
to enable the bucs to compete

[Babe Adams]

I'm kind of expecting a deal that'll carry through the arb years - Skenes banks his estate money, and the Pirates avoid years of extension talk.

[Doc]

I wish you could be right but I can't imagine a scenario where Bob Nutting offers Skenes a long term deal. He's done nothing in the way of bringing in talent in order to take advantage of having control over Skenes for the next five years. In fact, if a healthy Skenes is here through the 2027 season, I'll be surprised.

But didn't you read where Nutting feels he has done everything possible this year
to enable the bucs to compete

I did read it. Twice. And I didn’t believe it either time.

[Bobster]

Skenes is in control of whether he signs an extension to remain with Bob Nutting's bargain basement Pirates or he takes his talents to a team that actually tries to contend as soon as he can. And he won't have to wait for free agency because the Pirates will trade him with a year or more left on his contract to maximize his trade value. I cannot imagine Skenes preferring to remain a Pirate. Even if the Pirates offered a competitive contract, Skenes will get similar of better offers from better teams. I don't believe there is any chance whatsoever of the Pirates locking up Skenes.

[Doc]

Another factor is, if Nutting does sign him to a contract that’s fair, it’ll eat up such a large portion of the total payroll Nutting will allow, there won’t be much left. The team would be filled with guys making the minimum. And with the way the Pirates evaluate, draft, and develop talent, we could rightfully expect them to lose well over 100 games every year with those players over the length of Skene’s contract.

[JollyRoger8]

I for one do not think that Skenes is all about the money. He signed for slot money and did not hold out for over slot. I believe he wants to be a part of turning the Pirates into contenders before even considering jumping ship. He even has stated that he plans to finish what he started at the Air Force after his baseball career is over. Surround the man with real talent and let’s see where the chips fall. He may surprise us and emulate Sidney Crosby.