Jason Mackey: Prioritizing the future with Paul Skenes is fine, but Pirates should ensure it actually arrives with him in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH – As dominant as Paul Skenes was in Milwaukee, matching his career high with 11 strikeouts and riding a wave of momentum into what will be a start at the MLB All-Star Game next week, it’s doubtful anyone will forget Pirates manager Derek Shelton’s decision in the eighth inning on Thursday. No-hitter going, Skenes at 99 pitches, his efficiency increasing … and Shelton made what was certainly an unpopular choice by pulling Skenes. It nearly became catastrophic when Colin Holderman allowed two singles and a walk in the eighth before escaping.
Can’t say I love it, but I also don’t have a huge problem with what Shelton did. The odds of completing two more innings in fewer than 20 or so pitches were slim. So Shelton, explaining the Pirates weighed input from Skenes’ stuff and body language, chose to prioritize the future. OK, fine. The whole industry has become wacky and overly skittish with pitchers. Instead of griping over Shelton’s decision, let’s take a minute to discuss the financial or franchise future of a guy who has been arguably the best starting pitcher in Major League Baseball since he debuted. In other words, make Skenes an offer that
would be tough to refuse, a contract extension far exceeding the richest deal in franchise history by trading a boatload of guaranteed cash now for multiple free-agent years later.
Nobody could fault Skenes for thinking that way. It’s a business. And he’s right: Starting pitchers of Skenes’ potential caliber command upwards of $35 million per season now. Imagine what it will be like in five or six years. But if you’re the Pirates, isn’t this your only chance of having a bona fide ace beyond his team-controlled years? The Pirates offering a bunch of guaranteed money
now to Skenes carries obvious team risk, as well, though it’s probably more injury-related than whether what we’re seeing is real.
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