Paul Skenes is a record setter in many ways.
That includes in a new MLB salary pre-arbitration bonus pool.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ace has set a new record for the money he has been paid by MLB as part of a relatively new process that awards salary bonuses to players who aren't yet eligible for salary arbitration.
This season, Skenes will be paid $3,436,343 as part of the bonus.
These details from the Associated Press:
A 23-year-old right-hander who debuted in May 2024, Skenes had an $875,000 salary in the major leagues after earning $564,946 in pay last year. He won't be eligible for salary arbitration until after the 2026 season.
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Had the previous high of $3,077,595 for the 2024 season. MLB and the union agreed to the $50 million annual pool in their March 2022 labor settlement.
A total of 101 players will receive the payments under a plan aimed to get more money to players without sufficient service time for salary arbitration eligibility going into the season, which was two years, 132 days. Players signed as foreign professionals are not eligible.
Skenes earned $2.5 million of the bonus thanks to winning the NL Cy Young, with the rest calculated via a formula that is based on Wins Above Replacement.
The Pirates' right-hander has already proven himself to be the best pitcher in the National League.
Pittsburgh's task now is to put a strong team around Skenes. The Pirates are making noise about shelling out money in free agency this offseason. They owe it to Skenes to do just that.
More news:
- Dwyane Wade has a weird take on LeBron vs. MJ debate
- Olympic sensation Quincy Wilson commits to a Big Ten school
- Nation's longest high school winning streak snapped at 76 games
- Caitlin Clark might be the reason Steph Curry left Under Armour
- Shedeur Sanders makes Browns history as he begins to write a story all his own
- Blackhawks' 1st-round pick just led his high school football team to a state title