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Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes gave a cryptic response to teammate Konnor Griffin's massive extension.
Skenes, 23, the 2025 National League Cy Young and 2024 National League Rookie of the Year award winner, said Griffin was "gonna be the face of the Pirates for a long time" after he signed a nine-year, $140 million extension on Wednesday (April 8), leading to speculation that he was already planning a future departure. Griffin, 19, a shortstop selected No. 9 overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, signed the deal, the largest guarantee in Pirates history and most ever given to a player during their rookie season, just one week after making his MLB debut.
Skenes, a former College World Series champion and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, was rewarded a record $3,436,343 from this season's pre-arbitration pool after winning the NL Cy Young award in November, but won't be eligible for salary arbitration until after the 2026 season and can become a free agent for the first time after the 2029 season. The former LSU standout has lived up to lofty expectations, having been selected as an All-Star during each of his first two MLB seasons, as well as winning the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year award, being selected to the All-MLB First Team as a rookie and leading the majors in ERA in 2025.
The Pirates, however, have finished last in the National League Central Division standings during each of Skenes' first two seasons. Skenes currently has a 1-0 record with a 5.25 ERA and nine strikeouts in two starts.