Striking out batters for a good cause while earning peanuts—now that’s interesting. Paul Skenes, the Pirates pitcher, who has 365 strikeouts in just two seasons, is again making headlines. This time, it’s not solely about his Ks, but also about how every strikeout is making an impact.

During the 2024 MLB season, Paul Skenes started his ‘$100 per strikeout’ charity campaign with the Gary Sinise Foundation. The goal was to raise $100,000, and he did. And it’s continuing this season, too. He had already donated more than $117,000, so they boosted the target to $150,000. The foundation isn’t just another charity; they help veterans, first responders, and their families. And Pat McAfee from ESPN has matched Skenes’ donations for the last two seasons and even promised a $1 million bonus if Skenes ever breaks the MLB record for most strikeouts in a nine-inning game.

The charity cause is so noble that it inspired others, but the Pirates’ front office? They haven’t yet made any contribution. Highlighting exactly that gap, Fan Sided writer Emma Lingan throws the Pirates’ owner Bob Nutting under the bus. “If McAfee can match Skenes’ fundraising commitment, then Pirates principal owner Bob Nutting can double it. And he should.”

She continued without sugarcoating, “Even once Skenes is eligible to earn more per season, Nutting’s track record indicates that the Pirates won’t be the ones paying him. Perhaps Nutting is too cheap to honor a generational talent’s commitment to the franchise by paying him even close to what he’s worth, but the very least he could do is double that generational talent’s commitment to charity.”

The writer’s sharp criticism stems from the belief that Nutting is unwilling to pay one of the best pitchers in baseball enough to retain him on the team. Paul Skenes is currently earning $875,000, the second-lowest salary for a top player. And the Pirates’ 2025 budget is only $83.8 million, ranking them 27th out of 30 teams, which raises doubts about their willingness to spend more. As per Passan from ESPN, he could land the first $500 million contract for a pitcher in MLB history once he hits free agency.

The numbers show that Skenes is worth more than his current contract.

He pitched 6 1/3 clean innings and struck out nine batters, which was a season-high, in the Pirates’ 3–0 win over the Dodgers on April 26, 2025. On July 6, he was picked to the 2025 All-Star Game squad, making it his second straight year as an NL All-Star.

The 2024 NL Rookie of the Year is simply making a case for being a generational talent, but his contract paints a very different picture than his trophy collection.

Mark Madden, an MLB insider, summarized it perfectly. “Give Skenes $10 million for next season, then $30 million for each of the subsequent three seasons. Buy out his arbitration years…Until that happens, or something similar, it’s all a mirage dipped in wishful thinking.” Reports indicate ongoing but stalled contract extension discussions. So, now, it seems the least Nutting could do is demonstrate commitment to his star player and charity, even if he isn’t looking to double the value of the contract.

Now, citing several reasons, the baseball community is advising Paul Skenes to ask for a trade. So, Nutting must make a decision soon.

Ace on the clock: Paul Skenes may be eyeing an exit?

With the contract extensions rumors swirling around and almost reaching no end, the talk has turned to Skenes, perhaps asking for a move.

FanSided’s Jake Elman didn’t hold back when he said, “The Pirates need to make sure they include Skenes in all and any conversations regarding their next manager. And Skenes must be prepared to request a trade if the Pirates don’t seek his input.” A warning for the Pirates’ front office, who are already dealing with their skipper issue.

Pittsburgh’s internal shuffle adds a little more fire.

Don Kelly took charge after the removal of Derek Shelton, following a terrible 12-26 start, and led the team to a 52-54 period. But yet, there hasn’t been any formal announcement on Kelly’s job status for 2026; the ambiguity makes it much more important for Skenes to be heard.

If the Pirates really want to build around Paul Skenes—and they probably should—then they need to include him in choices that affect the whole team. The story says that if the club doesn’t include him, insiders might think that the club is quietly letting him leave.

In short, the standoff over the contract and the limbo in management are not different stories; they are coming together to create a moment of decision. And right now, the message is very clear: Get your ace involved, or you might lose him.