Dodgers could sign $17M Cy Young winner to bolster rotation with Yoshinobu Yamamoto originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a hot start in the 2026 season, led by young phenom Paul Skenes. However, before addressing a potential extension for Skenes, the organization made a surprising move by locking up rookie Konnor Griffin.

“Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in agreement on a nine-year extension, the team announced, locking up the top prospect in baseball less than a week after his major league debut. The deal is worth $140 million, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan and Buster Olney, the largest guarantee in Pirates history as well as for any player in his rookie season. Griffin, 19, was the first teenage position player to debut since Juan Soto in 2018 when he took over starting shortstop duties for the Pirates before their home opener Thursday. The contract buys out three potential years of free agency for Griffin,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote.

The early extension came as a surprise to many, but Skenes made it clear how highly he thinks of Griffin, even calling him the future face of the franchise.

“He’s gonna be the face of the Pirates for a long time,” Skenes said of Griffin.

Those comments raise questions about how Skenes fits into the organization’s long-term plans. If there is any tension, teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers could look to make a move for him.

“Paul Skenes will not take a hometown discount anytime soon, but if playing closer to home sounds appealing to the right-handed ace, then he could be tempted to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers aren't just Skenes' hometown team, though (he was born in Fullerton, CA), they're also the defending back-to-back World Series champions. Eventually, this Dodgers run will need a reboot of sorts, and what better way to do that than with one of the best young pitchers in baseball,” FanSided’s Mark Powell wrote.

The Dodgers already have one of the most talented rosters in baseball, and adding Skenes would give them arguably the best rotation in the sport. Skenes has earned $17 million so far in his career, but by the time he reaches free agency, his value is expected to rise significantly.

Skenes is widely viewed as a frontrunner for the National League Cy Young Award moving forward—something a team like Los Angeles would be more than willing to invest in.

More MLB news:

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2. Dodgers proposed trade ships top prospects for $56M Cy Young winner to pair with Shohei Ohtani

3. Braves predicted to part ways with $1.25M historic lefty when Sean Murphy, Ha-Seong Kim return

4. Dodgers' Edwin Diaz clears the air on potential injury, attributes velocity dip to past trend

5. Mets' $1.75M veteran offseason signing deemed early regret as Devin Williams, Luke Weaver shine

6. Braves manager Walt Weiss provides timeline for Spencer Strider's return from oblique injury

7. Giants GM Zack Minasian shows full support of Tony Vitello's most questionable decision yet

8. Yankees predicted to trade for $17M superstar flamethrower, Cy Young winner to join Gerrit Cole

9. Braves reportedly on verge of calling up electric top prospect with filthy arm for rotation boost

10. Braves predicted to trade for $56M NL East Cy Young winner to pair with Chris Sale, Spencer Strider

11. Mets predicted to trade for disgruntled $30M flamethrower, Cy Young winner to replace Freddy Peralta

12. Dodgers' Kyle Tucker reveals brutal reason he chose LA over the Blue Jays in free agency