Pirates News: Pittsburgh wins another arbitration case, Paul Skenes card controversy

The Pittsburgh Pirates went undefeated in salary arbitration battles this offseason, winning their second and final case in a decision announced Saturday.

Relief pitcher Dennis Santana, a waiver wire pickup from the New York Yankees last season, was awarded $1.4 million in arbitration instead of the $2.1 million he requested. The right-hander will still get a 40% raise over the $1 million he made last season while going 3-1 with three saves and a 3.89 ERA in 62 games combined between the Yankees and Pirates.

The Pirates also won their arbitration case against starting pitcher Johan Oviedo earlier in the week. The right-hander, who missed all of the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, will make $850,000 in 2025 instead of his requested $1.15 million.

Family of 11-year-old collector who pulled 1/1 Paul Skenes card speaks

Larry Holder of The Athletic (subscription required) got an exclusive interview last week with the family of the 11-year-old from Los Angeles who pulled the coveted Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch autographed card from the Topps 2024 Chrome Update.

The boy's father said that the Pirates' offer for the card – which included 30 years of season tickets behind home plate and a meet-and-greet with Skenes, among other things – was "amazing" but impossible to accept, given that the family lives in Los Angeles. The family contacted several auction houses and ultimately decided to sell the card through Fanatics Collect. The proceeds that Fanatics Collect makes from the sale will go toward relief efforts for the Los Angeles wildfires. The money that the family earns from the card, which could spike up to seven figures, will go toward the boy's and his brother's future education – after buying a few more packs of cards, of course.

The family chose to remain anonymous for fear of national attention being too much for the 11-year-old to handle. For that same reason, they remain undecided on whether they will accept the Pirates' offer for a visit with Skenes in either Pittsburgh or Los Angeles, given that the visit could reveal the child's identity. The family also expressed a desire to maintain their privacy, as they didn't feel right celebrating during such a difficult time in their community impacted heavily by the wildfires.

Pirates' former international scouting director hired by Angels

The Pirates' former director of international scouting, Junior Vizcaino, has been hired by the Los Angeles Angels as an international and amateur scout, according to Francys Romero.

Vizcaino was fired by general manager Ben Cherington this past season after seven years with the Pirates. Pittsburgh currently has only one player on its 40-man roster – utility man Ji Hwan Bae – whom it signed as an international free agent during Vizcaino’s time with the club. Bae and right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz, who was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in December, are the only two international free agents signed under Vizcaino who reached the Major Leagues with the Pirates.

The Pirates have hired Max Kwan to replace Vizcaino as director of international scouting. Kwan, who was previously a scout in the Pirates' system from 2014-23, returns to Pittsburgh as a brief stint with the Boras Corporation.

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