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By Drew VonScio
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have reportedly started conversations with superstar pitcher Paul Skenes over a contract extension.
In an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Dan Zangrilli, the team's pregame and postgame show host, explained how the organization is in the early stages but notes it will take a lot of work.
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"I think that they look at it as a long shot, an uphill battle, but that's not going to deter them from trying," Zangrilli said on the show. "I think they're absolutely going to try. Now, how successful, obviously I'm sure they view it as an uphill battle, it likely is. But again, the money they've presumably freed up is maybe allocated to try to extend this window."
Everyone in baseball knows the Pirates are going to be extremely lucky if they keep Skenes beyond 2029 when his rookie contract ends. He's the best pitcher in baseball currently among qualified starters with a 2.02 ERA.
Skenes has already been vocal about the organization's lack of ambition at the trade deadline, and he hopes the plan is to add some offense in the offseason.
Zangrilli also provided some general guidelines of a potential deal.
"They have to realize the full value of his contract, Zangrilli said on The Fan. "I believe the one way you can get something done is it has to be super creative and what it has to do is, it has to yes, guarantee all of these six years but also have some sort of opt out in there. Maybe he gives you plus one at a seventh (season) so you can fully truly realize all of those years of control."
It'll take a lot for the Pirates to keep Skenes in Pittsburgh. However, losing Skenes to a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Yankees could suck out the little enthusiasm that remains about the Pirates.
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