The Pittsburgh Pirates’ approach to building a competitive team around Paul Skenes has raised serious concerns. Despite Skenes’ incredible performance in 2024, where he earned NL Rookie of the Year honors with an 11-3 record and a 1.96 ERA, the team finished with a losing record of 76-86, largely due to a lackluster supporting cast. The Pirates’ reluctance to make significant, long-term investments in free agents has led to frustration, with critics like Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay calling out the team’s front office for not supporting Skenes adequately.
While the Pirates have made internal moves to keep core players like Bryan Reynolds, Mitch Keller, and Ke’Bryan Hayes, the team continues to avoid multi-year free-agent contracts, instead opting for short-term veteran deals. This strategy makes it difficult to build a competitive roster around Skenes, leaving the team vulnerable to falling into the same trap as other teams that wasted the prime years of their star players, like the Angels with Mike Trout.
The Pirates’ struggles in 2025, including poor offensive production and inconsistent pitching depth, highlight the continuing challenges. With a team hitting just .197 and struggling to score runs, it’s clear that Skenes alone cannot carry the team to success. The front office faces a critical decision: Will they invest in a more competitive roster to capitalize on Skenes’ talent, or will his prime years go to waste, becoming another painful “what if” story for the franchise?