{"id":67366,"date":"2024-02-28T07:00:26","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T12:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=67366"},"modified":"2024-02-28T00:22:29","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T05:22:29","slug":"largest-contracts-pirates-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/02\/28\/largest-contracts-pirates-history\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Largest Contracts in Pirates History"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Pirates aren\u2019t known for handing out large multiyear contracts, but they\u2019re starting to reverse that trend. With the recent extension<\/a> of Mitch Keller<\/a>, the Pirates have now given lucrative extensions to a key player three years in a row.<\/p>\n

The Pirates once had the highest-paid player in the game in Dave Parker<\/a>, who was given a five-year, $5 million contract in 1979 after winning two consecutive batting titles and a Most Valuable Player Award. At that time, the local steel industry was undergoing a severe downturn. Pittsburgh fans couldn\u2019t relate to a ballplayer making a seven-figure salary. It didn\u2019t help that Parker was a bold, flamboyant Black man who spoke in rhyme like a baseball version of Muhammad Ali. He had objects thrown at him. The fans booed him out of town, on to the Reds and his native Cincinnati when his deal was up. Pirates fans who remember those times don\u2019t recognize today\u2019s fan base, urging the owner to spend money on multimillion-dollar ballplayers and how things have changed.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s leave Parker for a moment. Look at how big contracts have worked for the Pirates, beginning with the largest in total dollars.<\/p>\n

The Quiet Man<\/h3>\n

Bryan Reynolds<\/a>, eight-year, $106.75 million extension, 2023.<\/strong> Reynolds came to the Pirates from the San Francisco Giants in the 2018 Andrew McCutchen<\/a> trade. Since joining the major league club in 2019, he\u2019s arguably been their best and most consistent player. In five seasons, he\u2019s hit .277\/.354\/.476, 98 HR, and 323 RBI. His best season was in 2021 when he hit .302\/.390\/.522, 24 HR, and 90 RBI and was selected for the All-Star Game. After playing primarily in center field in 2021 and 2022, he returned to left field, which suits him better.<\/p>\n

Initially, negotiations for his extension<\/a> became contentious. Much to the chagrin of both parties, word leaked that he had asked for a trade. Owner Bob Nutting stepped in, communicated to Reynolds that he was valued, and got the deal done. Of course, anybody who\u2019s seen Reynolds play wasn\u2019t worried about him being unhappy. He likes Pittsburgh, doesn\u2019t make waves, plays hard, and plays to win.<\/p>\n

The Staff Ace<\/h3>\n

Mitch Keller, five-year, $77 million extension, 2024. <\/strong>This deal yields the highest average salary the Pirates have ever given a player. In 2023, the right-handed starter was an All-Star, producing a 13-9 record with a 4.21 ERA and 1.245 WHIP. The ERA is misleading because of a few occasions in the second half where he remained in the game and took some lumps to save the bullpen. He struggled early in his career before going to the bullpen and discovering a sinker in the second half of 2022. He\u2019s being paid for what he\u2019ll do in the future. When the extension was announced, Keller spoke of appreciating how the Pirates stuck with him through the tough times. Pirates fans should be excited about a future one-two punch of Keller and top prospect Paul Skenes<\/a> in the rotation.<\/p>\n

Sunflower Seeds and Earbuds<\/h3>\n

Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes<\/a>, eight-year, $70 million extension, 2022. <\/strong>The 2015 No. 1 draft choice and son of former major leaguer Charlie Hayes<\/a> can be hard to figure. He gives the Bucs elite defense at third base. He won a Gold Glove Award last year and probably should have won one the year before. On the other hand, he\u2019s been inconsistent with the bat and at the center of some embarrassing incidents. Over four seasons, he\u2019s hit .264\/.320\/.409, 33 HR, and 151 RBI. In 2021, he hit a ball over the fence and was called out for missing first base as he rounded the bases. In 2022, TV cameras caught him reaching into his back pocket for sunflower seeds when he should have covered the bag. Facing the media with an earbud in his ear, he expressed no remorse. It was a bad look.<\/p>\n