The Boston Red Sox made headlines earlier this week when they inked starting pitcher Garrett Crochet to a six-year extension worth $170 million. Whether or not the move ends up being a healthy gamble is up for debate. But, it is evident that the choice will make these three future extensions more expensive.
All three of the following pitchers are similarly talented. While fans and pundits can wonder what these extensions would potentially look like when compared to what Crochet brought home, the deals will be more lucrative than they may have originally been after this most recent move from Boston.
3 starting pitcher extensions that got more expensive following Garrett Crochet-Red Sox contract
1) Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers)
Tarik Skubal enjoyed a banner year in 2024. He won 18 games, posted a 2.39 ERA, and led all pitchers with a 6.4 WAR on his way to winning the American League Cy Young Award. All of this came as his Detroit Tigers made an ahead-of-schedule trip to the ALDS.
Tarik Skubal got Jake Rogers a Rolex with his stats engraved because he caught every pitch of his Cy Young Award-winning season.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) March 28, 2025
pic.twitter.com/8l50moUC79
The righty figures to be a long-term part of the Tigers' plans after cementing himself as one of the game's best starters last season. He received a raise prior to the start of this season — $10.15 million to avoid arbitration — and he'll be a free agent after 2026.
Assuming Skubal continues to be effective, his extension might have just become more pricey. Despite the fact that he has an injury history, the 28-year-old will certainly fetch a healthy contract given he's a homegrown talent who now boasts one of the game's most coveted awards.
2) Logan Gilbert (Seattle Mariners)
Seattle Mariners starter Logan Gilbert has been a trendy pick to win this year's AL Cy Young Award. Through 33 games in 2024, he threw an MLB-best 208.2 innings and earned a 3.23 ERA. According to Baseball Savant, he ranked in the 100th percentile in Pitching Run Value and the 95th percentile in BB%.
Gilbert will become a free agent after the 2027 season, and given Seattle's recent history of extending players before they hit the open market, it is possible that they would want to get something done with the Florida native sooner rather than later.
It will be interesting to see what Gilbert could potentially net, especially considering other starters like George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo are all stars who may warrant similar treatment from Seattle. Gilbert's deal could set the tone for the rest of the young staff in negotiations.
3) Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates)
There's an argument that Paul Skenes is on his way to becoming the best pitcher in baseball. Even if it is too early in his career to discuss that possibility, it is undeniable that the Pittsburgh Pirates starter is coming off a 2024 campaign that has many wondering just how good he can be.
The LSU product took home National League Rookie of the Year honors thanks to an 11-3 record and a 1.96 ERA. He ranked in the 95th percentile in K% and the 99th percentile in Fastball Run Value.
By all accounts, had he debuted at the start of the season rather than in May, Skenes probably would have beaten out Chris Sale for the NL Cy Young Award.
Paul Skenes wants better for Pittsburgh fans pic.twitter.com/8p8X0yXvnf
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 23, 2025
The Pirates have a generational talent on their hands, and there will be many factors that determine the ultimate dollar amount on his first contract. As long as Skenes remains healthy, he's sure to command a king's ransom that should dwarf what Crochet just pulled in.
The question may ultimately be whether or not the Pirates can stomach the salary the dominant righty will demand.