Jeff Passan predicts Paul Skenes, Oneil Cruz contracts Pirates fans will hate

In what seems to be a dark age of Pirates baseball, two Bucs have been bright spots for fans. Paul Skenes and Oneil Cruz are two Pirates prospects who were sought after before coming to the big leagues, and both have lived up to their expectations.

These two have stuck out as significantly better players than those around them, especially with the way 2025 has gotten underway.

Jeff Passan, one of the game's most well-respected baseball writers, wrote an article for ESPN about the next wave of MLB stars who he expects to get nine-figure contracts. These two Pirates found themselves on this list.

Oneil Cruz and Paul Skenes are lined up for huge contracts, but will Pittsburgh Pirates pay them?

Oneil Cruz

Cruz was the first player on Passan's list whom he expects to receive a $200 million contract when he hits free agency.

The shortstop turned center fielder is having a career year at the plate, leading the league in steals while hitting eight home runs and holding a .168 walk rate, good for seventh in the MLB. Cruz has hit four leadoff home runs since moving to the one spot in the lineup, the most in baseball.

Cruz was officially called up to the big leagues for more than two games in 2022, when he hit .233 with 17 home runs. The following season was cut short for the Dominican standout after he fractured his ankle sliding into home plate after playing just nine games in 2023.

The biggest issue with Cruz is his fielding. Starting his career at shortstop, the 6-foot-7-inch Cruz has accumulated 42 errors at short, and was moved to the outfield at the end of 2024. This year, Cruz already has four errors, just three short of the MLB high, the only issue with his game.

"Cruz's offensive abilities are bountiful enough to earn a big number that starts with a 2 when he hits free agency at 30," said Passan in his article.

Unfortunately for Pirates fans, this $200 million projection does not look like something the Pirates would be willing to spend. The Pirates' biggest contract of all time is Bryan Reynolds' eight-year, $106.75 million contract. It is hard to believe they will pony up the money to keep Cruz in Pittsburgh.

Paul Skenes

The looming factor of Paul Skenes' success in Pittsburgh is the question of whether or not he will remain with the Pirates in the long term.

Understandably, Skenes was among the highest contracts that Passan predicted, as he is arguably the best pitcher in baseball at just 22 years old. Passan believes that the "best pitching prospect in a generation" will earn a $400 million contract when he is due.

The 2024 Rookie of the Year and All-Star starter has gotten off to the hottest start for a young player in recent memory. In his first 30 starts, Skenes posted a 2.15 ERA and a 0.939 WHIP. His rookie year was so strong that he finished third in NL Cy Young voting.

Skenes is a star on and off the field, as he was interviewed by GQ along with his girlfriend Livvy Dunne, a popular social media influencer and LSU Gymnast. Many fans have pointed out that Skenes' star power may be too much for Pittsburgh, leading him to leave for a big contract when the time comes.

"It would be no surprise to see Skenes parlay his productivity, age, and marketability into becoming baseball's first half-billion-dollar pitcher," said Passan.

This makes Passan's $400 million contract prediction for Skenes even more concerning for Bucs fans, as they have seen this movie before. After Gerrit Cole's dominant start in Pittsburgh, he was traded to Houston before signing his big contract, and Pirates fans hope this won't happen again.

At this point, all Bucs fans can do his hope that Pirates owner Bob Nutting is willing to pay up to keep his two young stars in Pittsburgh, or their seven-year rebuild may have just gotten longer.