Pitcher Paul Skenes received a record premium of $3.4 million

• Paul Skenes received a record premium under the previous arbitration system in 2025.
• The total amount of Skenes' premiums over two years amounts to $5.58 million.
• During his short career, he has become a regular for the future Pittsburgh Pirates.

Paul Skenes, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, received a record amount of $3,436,343 from the premium fund under the previous arbitration system for 2025. This payout has become the highest in the history of the program, which was established to support young talent in baseball.

Skenes, who has only debuted in major league baseball for two years, has already achieved the status of a regular for the future team. He was recognized as the Rookie of the Year in the NL in 2024 and received the Sy Young Award in 2025. His ERA indicator stood at 1.96 over 55 starts, which speaks to his high productivity on the field.

In the previous season, Skenes also received $2,152,057 in premiums, which combined with the new payout brings his total bonus amount to $5,588,400. This significantly surpasses his salary, which was $564,946 in his debut season and $875,000 in 2025.

The premium fund of $50 million was agreed upon between MLB and the players' association in early 2022. Skenes is one of 101 players who received bonuses this year, and his achievement has sparked discussions about his future contracts.

Currently, Skenes is focused on helping the Pirates become competitive, despite rumors about a potential move to the Yankees, which he dismissed.

Tags: Sport/Baseball